Labor Economics, Applied Econometrics, Economics of EducationHuman Capital and Educational Institutions Dissertation Abstract

My research lies in the domain of labor economics with a focus on education. The first two chapters of my dissertation contrast general versus careeroriented college majors, for example mathematics versus accounting. The first chapter uses a structural life cycle model to investigate the factors driving educational choices. I find that specialized study is not associated with increased earnings risk and the opportunity to gain information about occupational preferences is an important advantage of the career fields of study. The second chapter describes differences in educational and labor market outcomes associated with the two postsecondary pathways. I find that career-oriented fields of study are associated with higher wages and greater likelihood of employment; however there is no difference in degree completion nor the duration of unemployment spells. The third chapter, focuses on the sorting of middle school students into tracks (e.g. remedial or advanced) an