Sheepskin effects - signals without signaling
Bryan Caplan is one of the most enthusiastic proponents of the signaling theory of education, and this theory plays an important role in his new book, " The Case Against Education ". But I've always had a number of problems with this theory, and also with its application to the education policy issues. Recently, I wrote a Bloomberg View post in response to an essay Bryan wrote in The Atlantic that was adapted from his book. Now, Bryan has responded to my post. He makes many interesting points, but here I'd just like to deal with one issue - the issue of sheepskin effects, and which model they support. Sheepskin effects Sheepskin effects are central to my debate with Bryan. In brief, the sheepskin effect is the fact that most of the college wage premium vanishes if you drop out right before finishing (e.g. in the final semester). Bryan, and many proponents of the signaling model, believe that sheepskin effects are solid evidence that college is mostly about signa...