A Comparison of the Human Capital and Signaling Models: The Case of the Self-Employed and the Increase in the Schooling Premium in the 1980's

39 Pages Posted: 10 Nov 2003

See all articles by Magnus Lofstrom

Magnus Lofstrom

Public Policy Institute of California; Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

Date Written: June 2000

Abstract

This paper utilizes the self-employed to analyze the observed increase in the educational earnings premium in the 1980's. The paper compares the predictions of the signaling and human capital models in response to an exogenous demand shock such as a skill-biased technological change. Since the self-employed have no incentive to invest in a costly signal to show to employers their productivity, a change in the schooling equilibrium should not affect their earnings. Four testable hypotheses are derived. The findings suggest that the signaling model may indeed predict the observed changes in the schooling premium that are not consistent with the predictions of the human capital model.

Keywords: Earnings inequality, signaling, human capital model, schooling premium, returns to education

JEL Classification: J23, J24, J31, D31

Suggested Citation

Lofstrom, Magnus, A Comparison of the Human Capital and Signaling Models: The Case of the Self-Employed and the Increase in the Schooling Premium in the 1980's (June 2000). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=249021 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.249021

Magnus Lofstrom (Contact Author)

Public Policy Institute of California ( email )

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