Do Fields of Study Matter for Over-education? : The Cases of Spain and Germany

Ortiz, Luis; Kucel, Aleksander

Abstract:

Resorting to European Labor Force Survey 2003–2005 data and controlling for factors traditionally accounting for over-education, we demonstrate here that fi elds of study infl uence the odds of being overeducated in Spain and in Germany. Being more stratifi ed than the Spanish system of education, the German one uses fi elds of study as a signaling device for the labor market to a lesser extent than Spanish one. Cross-country similarities in terms of the relative position of fi elds of study within the country are discussed. Two samples have been researched: a general sample with information about individuals’ fi elds of study as well as a restricted sample with additional information individuals’ parental ISEI score, when such information was available. Heckman selection modeling has been applied to the latter (restricted) sample. A new technique has been devised to measure over-education, relying on ISCED categories instead of years of education.

Year:

2008

Type of Publication:

Article

Keywords:

fields of study, labor market studies, over-education, sociology of education, systems of education

Journal:

International Journal of Comparative Sociology

Volume:

49

Number:

4-5

Pages:

305-327

Month:

August

Note:

DOI: 10.1177/0020715208093079

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1177/0020715208093079