Ability sorting and the returns to college major
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Large earnings and ability differences exist across majors. This paper seeks to estimate the monetary returns to particular majors as well as find the causes of the ability sorting across majors. In order to accomplish this, I estimate a dynamic model of college and major choice. Even after controlling for selection, large earnings premiums exist for certain majors. Differences in monetary returns explain little of the ability sorting across majors; virtually all ability sorting is because of preferences for particular majors in college and the workplace, with the former being larger than the latter. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Arcidiacono, P
Published Date
- July 1, 2004
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 121 / 1-2
Start / End Page
- 343 - 375
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0304-4076
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/j.jeconom.2003.10.010
Citation Source
- Scopus