In this chapter the “Willingness To Pay” (WTP) approach and the utilitaristic one are compared in order to evaluate an educational project, such as an investment in human capital. In the first part, the differences between the two approaches are underlined. In the second part we show the important role that education can play on the probability of finding a job and on income, especially for young people. In the third part a suitable model is introduced and the conditions under which the WTP approach systematically overestimates (or respectively underestimates) the social value of an educational program are shown. In all the considered cases, however, the WTP criterion seems not to be a suitable measure of educational social welfare. The theoretical findings are supported by a detailed simulation study with random-effects models used.
EVALUATING INVESTMENTS IN HUMAN CAPITAL: WILLINGNESS TO PAY VS SOCIAL UTILITY
COLANTONIO, EMILIANO;MATTOSCIO, Nicola
2012-01-01
Abstract
In this chapter the “Willingness To Pay” (WTP) approach and the utilitaristic one are compared in order to evaluate an educational project, such as an investment in human capital. In the first part, the differences between the two approaches are underlined. In the second part we show the important role that education can play on the probability of finding a job and on income, especially for young people. In the third part a suitable model is introduced and the conditions under which the WTP approach systematically overestimates (or respectively underestimates) the social value of an educational program are shown. In all the considered cases, however, the WTP criterion seems not to be a suitable measure of educational social welfare. The theoretical findings are supported by a detailed simulation study with random-effects models used.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
