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Title: College Curriculum, Diverging Selectivity, and Enrollment Expansion

Citation Type: Working Paper

Publication Year: 2016

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Abstract: We analyze the impact of expansion of higher education on student outcomes in the context of competition among colleges which differentiate themselves horizontally by setting curricular standards. When public or economic pressures compel less selective colleges to lower their curricular demands, low-ability students benefit at the expense of medium-ability students. This reduces competitive pressure faced by more selective colleges, which therefore adopt more demanding curricula to better serve their most able students. This stylized model of curricular product differentiation in higher education offers an explanation for the diverging selectivity trends of American colleges. It also appears consistent with the U-shaped earnings growth profile we observe among college-educated workers in the U.S.

Url: www.RePEc.org

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Authors: Kaganovich, Michael; Su, Xuejuan

Series Title: CESIFO Working Paper Series

Publication Number: 6122

Institution: Center for Economic Studies & Ifo Institute

Pages: 44

Publisher Location: München

Data Collections: IPUMS CPS

Topics: Education, Other

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