Student Earnings Expectations: Heterogeneity or Noise?

Arbeitspapier

Students' choices in education can only be based on expected outcomes. Econometric models that infer expectations based on ex post outcomes impose a rational structure of expectations on school performance and post-graduation earnings. Direct surveys suggest much ignorance and fuzziness. We use survey data on expectations in four universities in three countries and check for relations of expected probability to graduate and of expected earnings with personal abilities and attitudes. We find that most of the difference in expectations among individuals is just noise.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: CESifo Working Paper ; No. 6110

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Analysis of Education ; Returns to Education ; Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity ; Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
• Subject: student expectations ; earnings ; earnings dispersion ; risk attitudes

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Diaz-Serrano, Luis ; Hartog, Joop ; Nilsson, William ; van Ophem, Hans ; Yang, Po
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo)
• (where): Munich
• (when): 2016

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/147364
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET