The research cluster examines the potential benefits of tertiary or higher education. Benefits can be analysed on two different levels: the social or collective level and the individual level. The literature discusses two types of returns on education on each of these levels: labour market-related returns (typically monetary returns) and returns gained outside the labour market (typically non-monetary returns such as well-being, and social or political participation). The research cluster focuses on individual returns to a certain extent but proposes widening its focus to include collective returns, and a multi-level perspective.
While there is a great deal of literature in the field of economics analysing monetary returns, there is less on non-monetary returns. Sophisticated research on the latter requires an interdisciplinary approach comprising economics, sociology, psychology, empirical educational research and pedagogics.
The research cluster considers differences in a variety of dimensions: vertical and horizontal differences in education, differences in life trajectories, heterogeneous effects between social groups, and international comparisons. Besides examining questions on the existence and quantity of returns on education, we are interested in the mechanism underlying returns. Such insights lead to evidence-based policy implications.
Other topics addressed by the research cluster include the conceptualisation, operationalisation, and causal analysis of returns on tertiary education. It supports the continuous enhancement of the DZHW survey programme, and contributes to networking with researchers in other research institutions and universities.