In: Economics
1. Historically, women were less likely to invest in a college degree than men. Why was this the case? What has changed to reverse this trend?
2. Explain the economics underlying the human capital investment decision (specifically, the decision to go to college versus sticking with just the high school diploma).
3. Empirical evidence shows clearly that, on average, individuals with more years of education earn more money, other things equal. Two different theories support this evidence: human capital theory and signaling theory. Explain both theories.
4. Describe the trends over time in (a) educational attainment by gender; and (b) percentage of graduates in selected professional degree programs that are female. Then provide reasons for the particular significance of the 1970s in these trends. 5. Describe the trend since 1974 in the college wage premium and the gender difference in this trend.
1. The has always been a gender gap between men and women l around the world. Parents would spend more on the education of their sons than their daughters. They would get their daughters married early and they would have to raise children because of which they would not be able to study in college. But now the times have changed and statistics show that women are more educated than men in the US. This is due to a few reasons.
Earlier women were married soon enough than men. Now the average age of the first marriage for women have increased thus giving them more time for higher education.
There are various methods available with which giving birth is controlled. This also leads to an increase in investing in a college degree by women. If women have children it becomes difficult for them to study as well as look after their children. Now with the availability of birth control, women can give more time on their education.
1970s was the time from when there was an increased participation in the workforce by women. This lead to an increase in investing in college degree by women. It is because education makes a person more efficient in their work, makes them more productive. Higher education leads to a raise in the pay structure. Since women started working, to be more efficient in the work they would demand to be more educated so as to make the best decisions.