The Occupational Mobility of Female Workers: An Empirical Analysis

Data from three supplemental mobility surveys conducted jointly with the Current Population Survey (CPS) in 1973, 1978, and 1981, were analyzed to investigate the determinants of occupational change by female workers in the American labor force. Results suggest that occupationally mobile female workers may substitute prestige and status for income when changing occupations. Personal characteristics and endowments were also found to be more important on outcomes relative to prior labor market experience. Investments in human capital were found to be particularly important for black female workers who exhibited occupational change

Economic education for at-risk students: an evaluation of Choices & Changes

This paper presents an evaluation of Choices & Changes, an economics education program designed to teach "at-risk" children in elementary and junior high school that they can control their future by making wise choices and investing in themselves. Using program-specific instruments and a national sample of approximately 1600 students, a controlled experiment was conducted to determine the effect of Choices & Changes on student learning and attitudes. The experimental data were analyzed using a simultaneous model estimated by 2SLS with correction for self-selection due to sample attrition between pre- and post-test observations. The results indicate that Choices & Changes had a positive effect on economic understanding for each grade level examined, ceteris paribus. Significant positive effects on attitudes were found in only one of the four student groups. These findings suggest that Choices & Changes is meeting its short-run objective of producing cognitive understanding of economic concepts and that the attitudes of at-risk students can be altered but may require additional intervention

Economic education for at-risk students: an evaluation of Choices & Changes

This paper presents an evaluation of Choices & Changes, an economics education program designed to teach "at-risk" children in elementary and junior high school that they can control their future by making wise choices and investing in themselves. Using program-specific instruments and a national sample of approximately 1600 students, a controlled experiment was conducted to determine the effect of Choices & Changes on student learning and attitudes. The experimental data were analyzed using a simultaneous model estimated by 2SLS with correction for self-selection due to sample attrition between pre- and post-test observations. The results indicate that Choices & Changes had a positive effect on economic understanding for each grade level examined, ceteris paribus. Significant positive effects on attitudes were found in only one of the four student groups. These findings suggest that Choices & Changes is meeting its short-run objective of producing cognitive understanding of economic concepts and that the attitudes of at-risk students can be altered but may require additional intervention

The Occupational Mobility of Female Workers: An Empirical Analysis

Data from three supplemental mobility surveys conducted jointly with the Current Population Survey (CPS) in 1973, 1978, and 1981, were analyzed to investigate the determinants of occupational change by female workers in the American labor force. Results suggest that occupationally mobile female workers may substitute prestige and status for income when changing occupations. Personal characteristics and endowments were also found to be more important on outcomes relative to prior labor market experience. Investments in human capital were found to be particularly important for black female workers who exhibited occupational change

Academic Success and the Transfer of Community College Credits in the Principles of Economics

A growing number of today’s college students attend local 2-year community colleges. Many of these students will ultimately transfer to major universities in pursuit of the traditional Bachelors degree. The question of whether such transfer credits adequately prepare students for future academic endeavors is important for educators interested in preparing successful students and maintaining the quality of their institution. In this paper, we examine whether students who transfer credits earned for the traditional Principles of Economics course sequence achieve the same levels of academic success, measured in terms of GPA, as students taking the sequence at a major state university. The model indicates that community college transfer students perform poorly relative to native students in terms of cumulative GPA. This result is driven by a self-selection process whereby the more academically challenged students are those who choose to transfer credit from 2-year schools. The results of our model are used to develop a grade equivalency measure between the university and 2-year schools. Using this measure we are able to reject the hypothesis that grades are equivalent between 2- and 4-year institutions. Finally, we find that grades in the Principles of Economics sequence are strong predictors of overall academic success

The social issues pedagogy vs. the traditional principles of economics: an empirical examination

Standardized test (TUCE) scores for students enrolled in a Social Issues course were compared to those of students in traditional Principles of Economics courses within the framework of a standard educational production function. The production function was estimated using Heckman's two-step procedure to correct for self-selection due to student attrition over the course of study. After controlling for student demographics, prior experiences, and academic aptitude, no significant test score differences were found between students in the Social Issues course and those in the Principles of Macroeconomics. However, Social Issues students were found to score significantly below students in the Principles of Microeconomics, ceteris paribus. The results also indicate that students had a higher probability of completion in the Social Issues course relative to a theory oriented Principles course

Economic education as public policy: the determinants of state-level mandates

This paper presents an empirical examination of the factors that influence a state's decision to mandate the teaching of economics within the K-12 curriculum. 38 states currently require some form of economics instruction within their approved curriculum. A binary choice probit model was estimated to determine the relationship between a variety of socioeconomic, political and policy environment variables in the decision to implement and maintain an economic education mandate. The results indicate that the number of university-based centers for economic education and the number of parents belonging to state parent-teacher associations positively affect the mandate choice. The incidence of poverty was found to be negatively associated with a state's requirement to include economics within the curriculum. These and other results highlight the need for additional research into the aggregate effects of required investments in economic human capital

Economic education as public policy: the determinants of state-level mandates

This paper presents an empirical examination of the factors that influence a state's decision to mandate the teaching of economics within the K-12 curriculum. 38 states currently require some form of economics instruction within their approved curriculum. A binary choice probit model was estimated to determine the relationship between a variety of socioeconomic, political and policy environment variables in the decision to implement and maintain an economic education mandate. The results indicate that the number of university-based centers for economic education and the number of parents belonging to state parent-teacher associations positively affect the mandate choice. The incidence of poverty was found to be negatively associated with a state's requirement to include economics within the curriculum. These and other results highlight the need for additional research into the aggregate effects of required investments in economic human capital

The Employment Impact of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act

This paper presents an empirical analysis of the macro employment effects of the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act as amended. The results indicate mixed effects on the legislation on older workers and workers of traditional retirement age

The Employment Impact of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act

This paper presents an empirical analysis of the macro employment effects of the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act as amended. The results indicate mixed effects on the legislation on older workers and workers of traditional retirement age