Free movement of workers and native demand for tertiary education
Bächli,Mirjam Tsankova,Teodora
Bächli,Mirjam
Tsankova,Teodora
Abstract
We investigate how natives’ demand for tertiary education responds to a reform that relaxed employment restrictions for foreign workers in Switzerland. The policy change led to a sharp increase in cross-border commuting into Swiss areas close to the border. We find that enrollment in universities with a focus on applied studies rises in affected commuting zones, and this increase is driven by natives with a vocational background. Enrollment rises mostly in non-STEM fields that foster skills less transferable across countries. We show that enrollment results are consistent with a rising wage premium for tertiary non-STEM degrees.
Description
Date
2024-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
F22 - International Migration, I26 - Returns to Education, J24 - Human Capital ; Skills ; Occupational Choice ; Labor Productivity, J61 - Geographic Labor Mobility ; Immigrant Workers, R23 - Regional Migration ; Regional Labor Markets ; Population ; Neighborhood Characteristics, SDG 4 - Quality Education, SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
Citation
Bächli, M & Tsankova, T 2024, 'Free movement of workers and native demand for tertiary education', Journal of Human Resources, vol. 59, no. 3, 0721-11805R2. https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0721-11805R2