Effect of Secondary Education on Cognitive and Non-cognitive Skills

  • Jani-Petteri Ollikainen
  • , Tuomas Pekkarinen
  • , Roope Uusitalo
  • , Hanna Virtanen

Research output: Working paperScientific

Abstract

We exploit admission cutoffs to secondary schools to study the effects of general academically oriented, versus vocational secondary schooling on cognitive and noncognitive skills using a regression discontinuity design. We measure these skills using the Finnish Defence Forces Basic Skills Test that due to compulsory military service the vast majority of Finnish men take and that is a strong predictor of later labor market success. We find that the large differences in the average skills across students that differ in their schooling when entering military service are due to selection rather than causal effects of secondary schooling on either cognitive or non-cognitive skills.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherHelsinki Graduate School of Economics
Number of pages54
ISBN (Electronic)978-952-7543-06-1
Publication statusPublished - 13 Apr 2023
MoE publication typeD4 Published development or research report or study

Publication series

NameHelsinki GSE Discussion Papers
No.7
Volume2023
ISSN (Electronic)2954-1492

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