On the links between spatial variables and overeducation

ABSTRACT

This article considers the role that diverse spatial variables play in explaining overeducation. Unlike previous analyses of the Spanish case, we have directly tested the links between current mobility (commuting and migration) and overeducation, and in contrast to previous literature, we have included a direct measure of potential spatial flexibility at an individual level (worker availability to migrate, in response to the needs of his/her firm). Regional labour market conditions are also considered in the analysis. Our results show that the links between overeducation and spatial variables vary depending on the specific sub-group of wage earners considered, based on gender and education.

KEYWORDS:

• Overeducation
• commuting
• migration
• local labour markets
• spatial variables

JEL CLASSIFICATION:

• J61
• R23
• I29

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

¹ We have considered the possibility of the migration variable being endogenous, but the Hausman endogeneity test does not reject the null hypothesis (exogeneity of the migration variable) with a p-value of 0.42. We have also re-estimated the model excluding that variable. The changes in the coefficients of the rest of the explanatory variables are insignificant, so we can rule out the possibility of endogeneity for the migration variable.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under Grant CSO2014-55780-C3-2-P (National Plan of R&D&I).