Essays on inequality and education (Namibia, Sweden)

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Essay II examines the differences in earnings between males and females in manufacturing, services and the public sector in Namibia. The estimated earnings differences are decomposed into endowment and discrimination components. The results suggest that females are discriminated, but that females have a productivity advantage over the males, which reduces the gross wage differential. Comparing the OLS results with the results accounting for selection, the endowment component is not affected, whereas the discrimination component is reduced

Essay III evaluates the 1991 reform adding a third year in Swedish upper secondary vocational education. One purpose with the additional year was to facilitate university enrollment for students from vocational paths. Reduced form are applied to estimate the effect of a third year on three outcomes: years of upper secondary education, university enrollment and the rate of inactivity. The results suggest positive effects on university enrollments within six years for individuals with a three-year vocational education, and negative effects on activity

Essay IV evaluates adult secondary education (ASE) in Sweden. ASE offers courses at the compulsory and upper secondary level and is aimed to give adults who lack these types of education. Controlling for pre-programme annual earnings, the estimates suggests that participating in adult secondary education significantly reduces the earnings of native-born males. No effects are found for native-born females, but the results indicate weakly significant positive effects for female immigrants