RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Does Enrollment Lead to Completion? Measuring Adjustments in Education to Local Labor Market Shocks
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 0121-11408
DO 10.3368/jhr.0121-11408
A1 Burga, Ramiro
A1 Turner, Sarah
YR 2022
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2022/03/31/jhr.0121-11408.abstract
AB Adverse local labor market shocks such as those generated by exposure of local industries to international trade have impacts on high school enrollment and completion that are theoretically ambiguous. Incentives to stay in school increase when employment prospects are weak; yet, public resources for local schools may also shrink. This paper demonstrates that, while high school enrollment rates increase significantly, high school degree attainment does not show commensurate growth. ‘Outmigration’ of young adults and changes in the timing of degree receipt reconcile these measures. In addition, high school attainment effects are likely attenuated by declines in local resources per student.