This dissertation applies the human capital model to explain school retention decisions of teenagers. The probability of school retention among children ages 15 through 19 in 1960 and 1980 is determined using logistic regression. Census of the Population data is analyzed for young men and women, separately. / Changes in the probability of school retention as well as variations in the significance of explanatory variables over time are examined. Consequences of changes in social, political and legal preferences in the twenty year period are measured with respect to the explanatory variables included in the model. / The results of this dissertation suggest that maternal education, family income, family size and status, and full-time, long-term maternal employment are important determinants of a child's decision to remain in school. Teenagers living in an intact family other than the first marriage or in a single-parent headed household are less likely to remain in school. The model specifies a mother's employment by the duration of the work over time as well as the full-time nature of the employment. With the exception of teenage pregnancy and marriage among young women, the determinants of school retention diminish in importance with additional maternal education. / Finally, given the trends in the distribution of children by maternal education, maternal labor force participation, and family status, the opportunity costs faced by teenagers as well as the quantity and quality of parental inputs received suggest a negative impact on future school retention decisions. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-03, Section: A, page: 0910. / Major Professor: James D. Gwartney. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76614 |
| Contributors | Thornton, Janet Rowton., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 248 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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