The Evolution of the Returns to Human Capital in Canada, 1980-2005

Brahim Boudarbat (), Thomas Lemieux and W. Craig Riddell

No 4809, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We examine the evolution of the returns to human capital in Canada over the period 1980-2005. Our main finding is that returns to education increased substantially for Canadian men, contrary to conclusions reached previously. Most of this rise took place in the early 1980s and since 1995. Returns to education also rose, albeit more modestly, for Canadian women. Another important development is that after years of expansion, the wage gap between younger and older workers stabilized after 1995. Controlling for work experience and using Canadian Census data appear to account for the main differences between our results and earlier findings.

Keywords: human capital; wage differentials; Canada (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J24 J31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 46 pages
Date: 2010-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-bec, nep-edu, nep-hrm, nep-lab and nep-ltv
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (42)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Evolution of the Returns to Human Capital in Canada, 1980-2005 (2010)
Working Paper: The Evolution of the Returns to Human Capital in Canada, 1980-2005 (2010)
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