Evaluating the impact of general versus vocational education on labor market outcomes in Egypt by means of a regression discontinuity design
利用埃及2012和2018年劳动力市场调查数据，通过断点回归设计分析高中普通教育与职业教育对男性毕业生劳动力市场结果的长期影响，发现普通教育在正规就业方面有优势，但对就业率、公共部门就业和工资无显著影响。
This study contributes to the scarce literature in developing countries by causally analyzing the long-term impact of secondary general versus vocational education on labor market outcomes in Egypt. Our regression discontinuity design (RDD) exploits a cutoff in exam scores that tracks students in upper-secondary vocational or general education. Pooling data from the 2012 and 2018 Egypt Labor Market Panel Survey (ELMPS), we find that among male upper-secondary graduates aged 25-49 and employed in the private sector, general education graduates experience a relative advantage in terms of formal employment. We find no impact on employment, public-sector employment, or wages for those in (wage) employment. Given the relatively poor prospects of vocational graduates, who account for two-thirds of enrollment at the upper-secondary level, improving the efficiency of vocational upper-secondary education could have a significant impact on the working conditions of many Egyptians.