Returns to Secondary School Vocational Classes: Evidence from Family Fixed Effects (Job Market Paper)

This paper investigates the impact of American high school vocational classes on students' educational and labor market outcomes. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97), I employ family fixed effects to solve selection problems. This paper analyzes within-family differences in post-secondary education attendance, secondary and post-secondary graduation, and labor market outcomes such as annual earnings. I assess how these outcomes vary based on the different number of high school vocational class credits taken by siblings. I find that high school vocational classes significantly decrease the likelihood of attending a 4-year college, by 2.6 percentage points, but they show no significant association with other educational outcomes. This main finding indicates that high school vocational classes serve as a sorting system, helping students recognize their comparative advantage and adjust their educational path accordingly. Students who discover their strengths in vocational education are more likely to opt for non-4-year college paths. Importantly, the paper shows that, on average, additional vocational classes taken during high school do not hinder students' ability to graduate from college, be it a 2-year or 4-year institution. Regarding labor market outcomes, the findings show a positive effect, particularly in terms of annual earnings. Contrary to common expectations, these positive effects of vocational classes are not short-lived; instead, they persist into an individual's mid-thirties. Overall, this study provides evidence that vocational education has a positive impact on both educational and labor market outcomes.

Unilateral Divorce on Female Labor Force Participation by Cohorts 

The cost of divorce can influence an individual's decision regarding labor force participation, and this impact may vary for people at different life stages. Utilizing data from the March CPS (Current Population Survey), this study examines the impact of unilateral divorce laws on women's labor force participation across different cohorts. I employ event-study to compare trends in women's labor force participation rates among various cohorts and use Diff-in-diff to estimate the effects. The findings suggest that unmarried women in the younger cohort (20-28) with lower educational levels are more likely to participate in the labor force, while married women in older cohorts (39-48) are statistically more likely to participate in the labor force.

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