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This article could be a case study in misinterpreting data. Americans from "advantaged backgrounds" are enrolling way more in schools, graduating more, and mak
by cowpig 12y ago
This article could be a case study in misinterpreting data.
Americans from "advantaged backgrounds" are enrolling way more in schools, graduating more, and making more money afterwards. Is this evidence of college being worth it? Maybe having parents who can invest six figures in your college education for you, and put you in contact with potential employers is a bit of a confounding variable here?
- sanxiyn 12y agoEconomists are not stupid. Studies do control for confounding variables. For example, to control for influence of parents, there are twin studies. And you would have known if you followed links.
- cowpig 12y ago"Economists aren't stupid" is a "stupid" thing to say. The study makes clear mistakes, and how stupid or smart the economist is is completely irrelevant. Anyway, trying to control for variables like the influence of parents is a fool's errand. The population that goes to college is self-selecting. There's almost certainly a direct correlation between aiming to earn a lot of money and going to college. It is a fact that colleges select what they consider to be the best of the applicants they see. These people are clearly likely to earn more money than the ones who are not accepted. etc. etc. etc.