An article examined whether students benefited from compulsory schooling in terms of their later earnings. It found much smaller returns than in previous studies – of about 3 per cent on average, with no evidence of any positive return for women and a return for men of 4-7 per cent.
Source: Paul Devereux and Robert Hart, 'Forced to be rich? Returns to compulsory schooling in Britain', Economic Journal, Volume 120 Issue 549
Links: Abstract | RES press release
Date: 2010-Dec
A paper presented evidence on empirical connexions between crime and education. It concluded that improving education could yield significant social benefits and could be a key policy tool in the drive to reduce crime.
Source: Stephen Machin, Olivier Marie and Suncica Vujic, The Crime Reducing Effect of Education, DP979, Centre for Economic Performance/London School of Economics
Links: Paper
Date: 2010-May
A paper examined the effect of lifelong learning on men's employment and wages. Modest effects were found for men who undertook lifelong learning without upgrading their educational status, and more powerful and significant effects for those who did upgrade their status. For the latter, the influence of lifelong learning on employment prospects was an important influence on the overall return.
Source: Richard Dorsett, Silvia Lui and Martin Weale, Economic Benefits of Lifelong Learning, Discussion Paper 352, National Institute for Economic and Social Research
Links: Discussion paper
Date: 2010-Mar
A paper said that there were 'significant positive returns' for men and women from lifelong learning. The magnitude of effect was similar for both genders, with men and women experiencing a 20 per cent increase in hourly earnings 10 years after gaining a lifelong learning qualification.
Source: Jo Blanden, Franz Buscha, Patrick Sturgis and Peter Urwin, Measuring the Returns to Lifelong Learning, DP 110, Centre for Economic Performance/London School of Economics
Links: Paper
Date: 2010-Mar
A report said that vocational qualifications made a marked difference to employees' earnings: but that the effect varied widely between sectors and occupations, being strongly influenced by the type of qualification and the method by which it was acquired.
Source: Steven McIntosh and Richard Garrett, The Economic Value of Intermediate Vocational Education and Qualifications, UK Commission for Employment and Skills
Links: Report | UKCES press release | ICG press release | People Management report | New Start report
Date: 2010-Jan
