Is University Education Worth It? Minimum Wage, Labor Supply Composition and Skill-Based Wage Gap in Türkiye: 2004-2023 Period

Taylan Akgül

Makale detayları

Is University Education Worth It? Minimum Wage, Labor Supply Composition and Skill-Based Wage Gap in Türkiye: 2004-2023 Period

Yazarlar:

Taylan Akgül

Yayıncı:

Ahmet Arif EREN

Ana Başlıklar:

Ekonometri (Diğer) | Mikroekonomik Teori | Çalışma Ekonomisi

Dergi:

Fiscaoeconomia Vol.9 Issue 2, pp.985-1002

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348884

pISSN:

2564-7504

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 This study analyzes the effect of minimum wage changes and the proportion of skilled labor in the employment on the skill-based wage gap in Türkiye. We utilize Household Labor Force Survey HLFS micro data sets, covering the period from 2004 to 2023. We first analyze wage disparities between skilled and unskilled groups through a Heckman-type wage equation that accounts for sample selection. Subsequently, we compute the skill-based wage gap for each year using the Blinder-Oaxaca method. Finally, we apply an econometric model where the wage gap, derived from the microdata, serves as the dependent variable. Explanatory variables are the proportion of skilled labor in employment calculated from the microdata and real minimum wage changes, adjusted for inflation by deflating the average annual nominal increase. This methodology allows us to explore the issue from a broader macroeconomic perspective. The results from the Heckman wage equations reveal significant differences in the effect of factors on wage determination and job-finding probabilities between skilled and unskilled employees. The econometric analysis, which examines the overall factors influencing the skill-based wage gap, reveals that a 1 rise in the minimum wage leads to a 0.15 decrease in the wage gap. Additionally, a 1 increase in the proportion of skilled workers in the workforce results in a 0.26 reduction in the wage gap. These results suggest that the wage advantage tied to education is gradually decreasing, potentially leading to a future drop in the demand for university degrees.

 This study analyzes the effect of minimum wage changes and the proportion of skilled labor in the employment on the skill-based wage gap in Türkiye. We utilize Household Labor Force Survey HLFS micro data sets, covering the period from 2004 to 2023. We first analyze wage disparities between skilled and unskilled groups through a Heckman-type wage equation that accounts for sample selection. Subsequently, we compute the skill-based wage gap for each year using the Blinder-Oaxaca method. Finally, we apply an econometric model where the wage gap, derived from the microdata, serves as the dependent variable. Explanatory variables are the proportion of skilled labor in employment calculated from the microdata and real minimum wage changes, adjusted for inflation by deflating the average annual nominal increase. This methodology allows us to explore the issue from a broader macroeconomic perspective. The results from the Heckman wage equations reveal significant differences in the effect of factors on wage determination and job-finding probabilities between skilled and unskilled employees. The econometric analysis, which examines the overall factors influencing the skill-based wage gap, reveals that a 1 rise in the minimum wage leads to a 0.15 decrease in the wage gap. Additionally, a 1 increase in the proportion of skilled workers in the workforce results in a 0.26 reduction in the wage gap. These results suggest that the wage advantage tied to education is gradually decreasing, potentially leading to a future drop in the demand for university degrees.

 This study analyzes the effect of minimum wage changes and the proportion of skilled labor in the employment on the skill-based wage gap in Türkiye. We utilize Household Labor Force Survey HLFS micro data sets, covering the period from 2004 to 2023. We first analyze wage disparities between skilled and unskilled groups through a Heckman-type wage equation that accounts for sample selection. Subsequently, we compute the skill-based wage gap for each year using the Blinder-Oaxaca method. Finally, we apply an econometric model where the wage gap, derived from the microdata, serves as the dependent variable. Explanatory variables are the proportion of skilled labor in employment calculated from the microdata and real minimum wage changes, adjusted for inflation by deflating the average annual nominal increase. This methodology allows us to explore the issue from a broader macroeconomic perspective. The results from the Heckman wage equations reveal significant differences in the effect of factors on wage determination and job-finding probabilities between skilled and unskilled employees. The econometric analysis, which examines the overall factors influencing the skill-based wage gap, reveals that a 1 rise in the minimum wage leads to a 0.15 decrease in the wage gap. Additionally, a 1 increase in the proportion of skilled workers in the workforce results in a 0.26 reduction in the wage gap. These results suggest that the wage advantage tied to education is gradually decreasing, potentially leading to a future drop in the demand for university degrees.

 Bu makale, asgari ücret değişikliklerinin ve işgücündeki nitelikli iş gücünün oranının Türkiyedeki beceri temelli ücret farkı üzerindeki etkisini analiz etmektedir. 2004-2023 dönemi arasını kapsayan Hanehalkı İşgücü Anketi HİA mikro veri setleri kullanılmıştır. İlk olarak, becerili ve becerisi düşük gruplar arasındaki ücret farklılıkları, örneklem seçim hatasını dikkate alan Heckman tipi bir ücret denklemi ile analiz edilmiştir. Ardından, Blinder-Oaxaca ayrıştırma tekniği kullanılarak her yıl için beceri temelli ücret farkı hesaplanmıştır. Son olarak, mikro verilerden türetilen ücret farkının bağımlı değişken olarak kullanıldığı ekonometrik model oluşturulmuştur. Bağımsız değişkenler, işgücündeki nitelikli iş gücünün oranı mikro verilerden hesaplanmış ve enflasyona göre düzeltilmiş gerçek asgari ücret değişiklikleridir. Bu metodoloji, konuyu daha geniş bir makroekonomik perspektiften incelememize olanak tanımaktadır. Heckman ücret denklemlerinden elde edilen sonuçlar, becerili ve becerisi düşük çalışanlar arasındaki ücret belirleme faktörleri ve iş bulma olasılıkları üzerinde önemli farklılıklar olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Beceri temelli ücret farkını etkileyen genel faktörleri inceleyen ekonometrik analiz, asgari ücretteki 1lik bir artışın ücret farkını 0,15 oranında azalttığını göstermektedir. Ayrıca, iş gücündeki nitelikli işçilerin oranındaki 1lik bir artış, ücret farkını 0,26 oranında azaltmaktadır. Bu sonuçlar, eğitimle bağlantılı olan ücret avantajının giderek azaldığını ve bu durumun gelecekte üniversite diplomalarına olan talebin düşmesine yol açabileceğini göstermektedir.

Makale detayları

Is University Education Worth It? Minimum Wage, Labor Supply Composition and Skill-Based Wage Gap in Türkiye: 2004-2023 Period

Yazarlar:

Taylan Akgül

Yayıncı:

Ahmet Arif EREN

Ana Başlıklar:

Ekonometri (Diğer) | Mikroekonomik Teori | Çalışma Ekonomisi

Dergi:

Fiscaoeconomia Vol.9 Issue 2, pp.985-1002

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348884

pISSN:

2564-7504

Minimum Wage

Heckman Sample Selection

Blinder-Oaxaca Decomposition

Survey Data AnalysisAsgari Ücret

Heckman Örneklem Seçimi

Blinder-Oaxaca Ayrıştırması

Anket Verisi Analizi

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Taylan Akgül

Yayıncı: Ahmet Arif EREN

Ana Başlıklar: Ekonometri (Diğer) | Mikroekonomik Teori | Çalışma Ekonomisi

Dergi: Fiscaoeconomia Vol.9 Issue 2, pp.985-1002

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 5/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001348884

pISSN: 2564-7504

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Taylan Akgül

Yayıncı:

Ahmet Arif EREN

Ana Başlıklar:

Ekonometri (Diğer) | Mikroekonomik Teori | Çalışma Ekonomisi

Dergi:

Fiscaoeconomia Vol.9 Issue 2, pp.985-1002

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348884

pISSN:

2564-7504