November 2002

IZA DP No. 658: Why Do Students Expect to Stay Longer in College? Evidence from Europe

published in: Economics Letters, 2003, 80 (2), 247-253.

We investigate the expected college completion time of European college students by using data from a survey of more than 3000 students in 10 countries. We explain observed excess time to graduation by paying special attention to labor market variables, such as unemployment, wage differentials and employment protection, and to the funding of tertiary education.