| Abstract |
Abstract. This paper investigates the returns to flexible postsecondary education by relaxing the standard assumption that this education proceeds in a continuous manner with lower, more general, degrees being attained first, and higher, skill specific degrees, being attained later. Using a unique survey that collects information on a representative cohort of graduates, we are able to estimate the effects of delaying school among successful graduates. This allows us to abstract from specific macroeconomic effects at the time of graduation that may affect labour market success. Our results show that graduates that delayed their education experience a premium relative to graduates that did not. These estimates are, in general, robust to the possibility of selection in the decision to interrupt schooling. Therefore, these findings add to previous studies that suggest that individuals with higher opportunity costs of schooling may have relatively high returns to education. |