Purpose

The increasing rate at which individuals, especially, females in Ghana are seeking higher education calls for an estimation of the returns to schooling and education in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs the Mincer equation to a representative cross-sectional micro-data from Ghana using OLS and instrumental variable (IV) methodologies. The paper uses spouse's education as instruments in the IV estimation.

Findings

Return to schooling was found to be higher for females than males, likewise, membership of an old student associations and location of the household. Returns to education increases as the level of education rises whilst the rate of returns initially increases but fall as labour market experience rises. The study also found that the rates of return to education were higher for Christian, followed by Muslim and believers of other lesser-known religion in Ghana.

Research limitations/implications

Return to schooling was found to be higher for females than males. Likewise, individuals who are members of an old student association and are in urban areas were found to have a higher return to schooling than individuals who are not members of an old student association and are in rural areas. Returns to education increases as the level of education rises whilst the rate of returns initially increases but fall as labour market experience rises. The study also found that the rates of return to education were higher for Christian, followed by Muslim and believers of other lesser-known religion in Ghana.

Practical implications

Wage determination process is different for males and females, across religion and residency. The higher returns to schooling for females imply education is a good investment for women and girls and should be a development priority.

Social implications

The higher returns to schooling for females imply an investment in girl's education should be a development priority.

Originality/value

The paper extends the existing literature by focussing on the role of religion, old student's association (alma mater) and gender on the differential earning returns to schooling.

中文翻译：

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估计加纳教育的经济回报：基于性别的视角

目的

个人，尤其是加纳女性寻求高等教育的速度不断增加，要求对加纳的学校教育和教育回报进行估算。

设计/方法/方法

该研究使用 OLS 和工具变量 (IV) 方法将 Mincer 方程应用于来自加纳的代表性横截面微观数据。本文使用配偶的教育作为 IV 估计的工具。

发现

研究发现，女性重返学校的比例高于男性，同样，旧学生协会的成员身份和家庭所在地也是如此。教育回报率随着教育水平的提高而增加，而回报率最初会增加，但随着劳动力市场经验的增加而下降。该研究还发现，基督徒的教育回报率更高，其次是穆斯林和加纳其他鲜为人知的宗教信徒。

研究限制/影响

研究发现，女性的返校率高于男性。同样，在城市地区的旧学生协会成员的个人被发现比非旧学生协会成员并且在农村地区的个人具有更高的学校教育回报。教育收益随着教育水平的提高而增加，而收益率最初是增加的，但随着劳动力市场经验的增加而下降。该研究还发现，基督徒的教育回报率更高，其次是穆斯林和加纳其他鲜为人知的宗教信徒。

实际影响

不同宗教和居住地，男性和女性的工资确定过程是不同的。女性上学的更高回报意味着教育对女性和女童来说是一项很好的投资，应该成为发展的优先事项。

社会影响

女性上学的更高回报意味着对女童教育的投资应该是发展的优先事项。

原创性/价值

该论文通过关注宗教、老学生协会（母校）和性别对学校教育差异收入回报的作用来扩展现有文献。