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Article
Post-College Schooling, Overeducation, and Hourly Earnings in the United States
Education Economics (2003)
  • Stephen D. Rubb
Abstract
Using 1990 US census data, the present paper examines the relationship between overeducation and earnings. The paper updates previous findings and then focuses on those most likely to be overeducated—individuals with post-college schooling. It is hypothesized that specific occupations that require college education may be flexible in their ability to utilize the surplus human capital of the employees. Being overeducated is shown to increase the wages of men working at a job that requires a bachelor’s degree. The results are compared with findings in Canada and the UK. Additionally, overeducation is shown to contribute to the gender wage gap
Keywords
  • Overeducation,
  • Human capital,
  • Educational economics
Disciplines
Publication Date
April, 2003
DOI
10.1016/S0272-7757(02)00077-8
Citation Information
Stephen D. Rubb. "Post-College Schooling, Overeducation, and Hourly Earnings in the United States" Education Economics Vol. 11 Iss. 1 (2003) p. 53 - 72
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/stephen_rubb/16/