REGIONAL GAPS IN RETURNS TO EDUCATION: A MICROECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF COLOMBIAN CITIES (2021–2024)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v23.3911

Keywords:

Human Capital, Returns To Education, Labor Economics, Regional Gaps

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the regional gaps in returns to education in Colombia during the 2021–2024 period, focusing on major urban centers and using Bogotá as the reference category. A microeconometric methodology was applied, estimating a Mincerian earnings function corrected for sample selection bias through the Heckman procedure. Microdata from Colombia’s Gran Encuesta Integrada de Hogares (GEIH) were employed, allowing for the simultaneous modeling of labor market participation and wage equations. The results indicate that Medellín and Bucaramanga exhibit consistently positive returns compared to Bogotá, while Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Pasto show persistent wage penalties. The main conclusion is that urban location remains a crucial determinant of the profitability of human capital in Colombia, reinforcing wage inequalities and highlighting the need for regional development policies that foster territorial equity.

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Published

2026-03-30

How to Cite

Rodríguez, D. T. G., Pérez, E. M. B., & López, C. E. (2026). REGIONAL GAPS IN RETURNS TO EDUCATION: A MICROECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF COLOMBIAN CITIES (2021–2024). Veredas Do Direito, 23(5), e233911. https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v23.3911

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Vol. 23 No. 5 (2026): Veredas do Direito, v. 23, n. 5 2026

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