Abstract
We evaluate returns to General Educational Development (GED) certification for high school dropouts using state administrative data. We apply a fuzzy regression discontinuity method to account for test takers retaking the test. For women we find that GED certification has no statistically significant effect on either employment or earnings. For men we find a significant increase in earnings in the second year after taking the test but no impact in subsequent years. GED certification increases postsecondary school enrollment by 4–8 percentage points. Our results differ from regression discontinuity approaches that fail to account for test retaking.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-4-2016
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1086/686245
Funding Information
We thank Kyung-Seong Jeon and Laura Coogan for excellent research assistance, and we thank the Spencer Foundation for financial assistance.
Repository Citation
Jepsen, Christopher; Mueser, Peter; and Troske, Kenneth R., "Labor Market Returns to the GED Using Regression Discontinuity Analysis" (2016). Economics Faculty Publications. 1.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/economics_facpub/1
Notes/Citation Information
Published in Journal of Political Economy, v. 124, no. 3, p. 621-649.
© 2016 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.
The copyright holder has granted the permission for posting the article here.