Publication Date:
2015-06-09
Description:
Previous studies have linked Catholic schooling to higher academic achievement. We add to the literature on Catholic schooling by examining its effect on long-term wages in Australia, independent of effects on academic achievement. Using panel data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics Australia (HILDA) survey and fixed effects estimation, we find that during the prime-age of a career, wages for Catholic school graduates progress with labor market experience at a greater rate, on average, than wages for public school graduates. Importantly, we find no evidence to suggest that these benefits are peculiar to Catholic schooling, with similar benefits estimated for graduates of independent private schools. These findings suggest that private schooling may be important in not only fostering higher academic achievement but also in better preparing students for a working life.
Electronic ISSN:
1935-1682
Topics:
Economics
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