Essays on Inequality and Education

Abstract: This thesis consists of an introduction and four self-contained essays.Essay I examines the contribution of socio-economic variables to Namibian income inequality. I examine the extent to which total income inequality is due to within-group inequality or between-group inequality. Income inequality in Namibia ranks among the highest in the world. The within-group inequality seems to be the principal determinant of total inequality. Education is an important factor in determining degrees of between-group inequality.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 enrolment for students from vocational paths. Reduced forms are applied to estimate the effect of a third year on three outcomes: years of upper secondary education, university enrolment and the rate of inactivity. The results suggest positive effects on university enrolments 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.