Publication:
Is Formal Lifelong Learning a Profitable Investment for All of Life? How Age, Education Level, and Flexibility of Provision Affect Rates of Return to Adult Education in Colombia

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dc.contributor.authorSohnesen, Thomas Pave
dc.contributor.authorBlom, Andreas
dc.date.accessioned2012-06-20T19:07:20Z
dc.date.available2012-06-20T19:07:20Z
dc.date.issued2005-12
dc.description.abstractLifelong learning is increasingly being recognized as a primary factor for knowledge diffusion and productivity growth. However, little economic evidence exists on the economic value of lifelong learning for the individual, especially in developing countries. This paper contributes to remedy this shortfall. It investigates one aspect of lifelong learning: returns to formal education across ages. In the absence of long-term longitudinal data, the paper estimates rates of return for simulated re-entry into the education system. The estimations use the method of internal rate of return and are based on observed education-age-earnings profiles from the Colombian national household survey. It finds that rates of return to all levels of education are only slightly smaller for 35 year olds than for young people, thus confirming the profitability of investment in adult education. Tertiary education continues to attract a positive return until late in life, 45-50 years, whereas the economic value of re-entering primary and secondary education is positive up till the age of 40-45. So, formal lifelong learning seems to remain a profitable investment for at least half of life. But lack of part-time work, high tuition fees, and prolonged study time reduce the return. The findings suggest that adult formal education initiatives should focus on the 20 to 40 year olds and be designed flexibly to allow learners to work part time.en
dc.identifierhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2005/12/6479834/formal-lifelong-learning-profitable-investment-all-life-age-education-level-flexibility-provision-affect-rates-return-adult-education-colombia
dc.identifier.doi10.1596/1813-9450-3800
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10986/8558
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherWorld Bank, Washington, DC
dc.relation.ispartofseriesPolicy Research Working Paper; No. 3800
dc.rightsCC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights.holderWorld Bank
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.subjectACCESS TO EDUCATION
dc.subjectACCREDITATION
dc.subjectADMINISTRATIVE DATA
dc.subjectADULT EDUCATION
dc.subjectADULT LEARNING
dc.subjectADULT STUDENTS
dc.subjectAGE COHORT
dc.subjectAGE GROUP
dc.subjectAGE GROUPS
dc.subjectCAREER
dc.subjectCONTINUING EDUCATION
dc.subjectCOST OF EDUCATION
dc.subjectCOSTS OF EDUCATION
dc.subjectCREDIT TRANSFER
dc.subjectCURRICULA
dc.subjectCURRICULUM
dc.subjectDEVELOPING COUNTRIES
dc.subjectECONOMIC GAINS
dc.subjectEDUCATION INDICATORS
dc.subjectEDUCATION INITIATIVES
dc.subjectEDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
dc.subjectEDUCATION LEVEL
dc.subjectEDUCATION LEVELS
dc.subjectEDUCATION SYSTEM
dc.subjectEDUCATION ­ INVESTMENTS
dc.subjectEDUCATIONAL COSTS
dc.subjectEDUCATIONAL FACTORS
dc.subjectEDUCATIONAL LEVELS
dc.subjectEDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
dc.subjectENROLLMENT
dc.subjectENROLLMENT RATES
dc.subjectENROLMENT RATE
dc.subjectFINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS
dc.subjectFORMAL EDUCATION
dc.subjectFORMAL EDUCATION SYSTEM
dc.subjectFORMAL LEARNING
dc.subjectFURTHER EDUCATION
dc.subjectGLOBAL KNOWLEDGE
dc.subjectGROSS ENROLLMENT
dc.subjectHIGH COSTS
dc.subjectHIGH EARNERS
dc.subjectHIGHER EDUCATION
dc.subjectHIGHER ENROLLMENT
dc.subjectHIGHLY SKILLED LABOR
dc.subjectHOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
dc.subjectHUMAN CAPITAL
dc.subjectINCOME LEVELS
dc.subjectINVESTMENT IN EDUCATION
dc.subjectKNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
dc.subjectLABOR FORCE
dc.subjectLABOR MARKET
dc.subjectLABOR MARKETS
dc.subjectLATIN AMERICAN
dc.subjectLEARNING
dc.subjectLEARNING POLICIES
dc.subjectLEAVING SCHOOL
dc.subjectLEVEL OF EDUCATION
dc.subjectLEVELS OF EDUCATION
dc.subjectLIFELONG LEARNING
dc.subjectLITERATURE
dc.subjectLOCAL LABOR MARKET
dc.subjectNET ENROLLMENT
dc.subjectPAPERS
dc.subjectPOOR PEOPLE
dc.subjectPRIMARY EDUCATION
dc.subjectPRIMARY ENROLLMENT
dc.subjectPRIVATE INSTITUTIONS
dc.subjectPUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
dc.subjectRATES OF RETURN
dc.subjectRETURN TO EDUCATION
dc.subjectRETURNS TO EDUCATION
dc.subjectRURAL POPULATION
dc.subjectSCHOOL SUPPLIES
dc.subjectSCHOOLING
dc.subjectSCHOOLS
dc.subjectSECONDARY EDUCATION
dc.subjectSECONDARY LEVEL
dc.subjectSKILLED WORKERS
dc.subjectSTUDENT POPULATION
dc.subjectTEACHING
dc.subjectTERTIARY EDUCATION
dc.subjectTERTIARY ENROLLMENT
dc.subjectTERTIARY INSTITUTIONS
dc.subjectTERTIARY LEVEL
dc.subjectTERTIARY STUDENTS
dc.subjectTRAINING INSTITUTIONS
dc.subjectTUITION
dc.subjectTUITION COSTS
dc.subjectTUITION FEES
dc.subjectUNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION
dc.subjectUNIVERSITIES
dc.subjectURBAN AREAS
dc.subjectWORK EXPERIENCE
dc.subjectWORKERS
dc.subjectWORKING HOURS
dc.subjectYOUNG PEOPLE
dc.titleIs Formal Lifelong Learning a Profitable Investment for All of Life? How Age, Education Level, and Flexibility of Provision Affect Rates of Return to Adult Education in Colombiaen
dspace.entity.typePublication
okr.crosscuttingsolutionareaGender
okr.crossref.titleIs Formal Lifelong Learning A Profitable Investment For All Of Life ? How Age, Education Level, And Flexibility Of Provision Affect Rates Of Return To Adult Education In Colombia
okr.date.doiregistration2025-04-10T09:12:20.839706Z
okr.doctypePublications & Research::Policy Research Working Paper
okr.doctypePublications & Research
okr.docurlhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2005/12/6479834/formal-lifelong-learning-profitable-investment-all-life-age-education-level-flexibility-provision-affect-rates-return-adult-education-colombia
okr.globalpracticeEducation
okr.guid820731468021848893
okr.identifier.doi10.1596/1813-9450-3800
okr.identifier.externaldocumentum000016406_20051215160919
okr.identifier.internaldocumentum6479834
okr.identifier.reportWPS3800
okr.language.supporteden
okr.pdfurlhttp://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2005/12/15/000016406_20051215160919/Rendered/PDF/wps3800.pdfen
okr.region.administrativeLatin America & Caribbean
okr.region.countryColombia
okr.topicTertiary Education
okr.topicEducation::Primary Education
okr.topicAccess and Equity in Basic Education
okr.topicGender::Gender and Education
okr.topicTeaching and Learning
okr.unitDevelopment Research Group (DECRG)
okr.volume1 of 1
relation.isSeriesOfPublication26e071dc-b0bf-409c-b982-df2970295c87
relation.isSeriesOfPublication.latestForDiscovery26e071dc-b0bf-409c-b982-df2970295c87
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