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The return to master’s degree in the Russian labor market
https://doi.org/10.32609/0042-8736-2021-8-69-92
Abstract
Though master’s programmes are rapidly gaining attention from students, evidence concerning the labor market returns to master’s degree remains scarce. There is a widespread opinion that Russian employers can barely distinguish between graduates with bachelor’s and master’s degree making it unreasonable to pursue a graduate degree. This paper contradicts this opinion. Based on a unique administrative dataset about employment of Russian HEI graduates in 2020, this study reveals a significantly positive association between master’s degree acquisition and labour market outcomes one year after graduation. Master’s degree increases probability of employment by 3—8% in male sample and by 10—16% in female sample, respectively. Moreover, graduate degree is associated with a wage premium of 5—21% for females and 2—11% for males. Despite a short period of time passed after the Bologna reform, Russian labour market encourages having a graduate degree, though the size of the premium varies drastically between fields of study and types of university.
Supporting agencies: This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, grant No. 075-15-2020-928.
About the Authors
K. V. Rozhkova
HSE University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Ksenia V. Rozhkova
Moscow
S. Y. Roshchin
HSE University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Sergey Y. Roshchin
Moscow
S. A. Solntsev
HSE University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Sergey A. Solntsev
Moscow
P. V. Travkin
HSE University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Pavel V. Travkin
Moscow
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For citations:
Rozhkova K.V., Roshchin S.Y., Solntsev S.A., Travkin P.V. The return to master’s degree in the Russian labor market. Voprosy Ekonomiki. 2021;(8):69-92. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.32609/0042-8736-2021-8-69-92
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