Economics Working Papers
Publication Date
12-18-2020
Number
20025
Abstract
I use the American Community Survey to examine how college earnings premiums differ across small metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the U.S. I document that the West North Central Division (Plains Region) has especially low average college earnings premiums. Controlling for observable MSA characteristics via regression explains some of the difference between the Plains and other regions, but large and important differences remain. The low return to education for small MSAs in the Plains suggests that they will face special challenges building and retaining human capital in the near future. These areas may especially struggle to attract college-educated in-migrants.
JEL Classification
J20, J30, R10
Version History
Original Release Date: December 18, 2020
Departments
Department of Economics, Iowa State University
File Format
application/pdf
Length
30 pages
Recommended Citation
Winters, John V., "Problem on the Plains: College Earnings Premiums in Small Metropolitan Areas" (2020). Economics Working Papers: Department of Economics, Iowa State University. 20025.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/econ_workingpapers/120
Included in
Demography, Population, and Ecology Commons, Higher Education Commons, Industrial Organization Commons, Labor Economics Commons, Regional Economics Commons
