Monday, August 6, 2018

Teachers' Occupational Choice


Among college graduates, teachers have both low average AFQT* and high average risk aversion, perhaps because the compression of earnings within teaching attracts relatively risk-averse individuals. (*Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT). AFQT scores are computed using the Standard Scores from four ASVAB** subtests: Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), and Word Knowledge (WK). **Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

Using a dynamic optimization model with unobserved heterogeneity, this study shows that were it possible to make teacher compensation mimic the return to skills and riskiness of the non-teaching sector, overall compensation in teaching would increase. 

No comments: