Volume 23, Number 3 (Summer) 1988
Link, Charles R. 1988. "Returns to Nursing Education: 1970-84." Journal of Human Resources 23(3):372-387.
Using four large micro data sets, this paper examines the returns to investments in education by registered nurses during the period 1970-84. Wage models are estimated by a maximum likelihood technique that accounts for selection bias. No wage difference existed between associate and diploma degree nurses. Modest hourly wage premiums were found for baccalaureate (BS) compared with associate degree nurses. Returns to positions of responsibility were substantial. However, when career patterns of promotion were examined in a multinomial logit model, and although statistically significant differences existed in favor of the baccalaureate nurses, the differences were small. Blacks made substantial gains over the period while males consistently earned large wage premiums.
The author is a professor of economics at the University of Delaware. This research was made possible by grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (#9094) and the Center for Advanced Study of the University of Delaware. The author would like to thank his student research assistants Jeff Foltz, Ying Qian, Roz Vinci, and, especially, Jerry Gallagher. Dick Sacher of the University of Delaware Computing Center provided invaluable support by helping to solve several data processing problems that arose during the project. Finally, Evangelos Falaris, Saul Hoffman, and anonymous referees provided value comments. The author takes responsibility for remaining errors.
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