Youth Aptitude as a Predictor of Adulthood Income

Authors

Jaret Kanarek, Illinois Wesleyan UniversityFollow

Abstract

I examine the relationship between youth aptitude and adulthood income. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of the Youth 1979 cohort and OLS regression analysis, I test the hypothesis that a higher 1981 Armed Forces Qualifications Test (AFQT) score is directly related to a higher income in 2010, ceteris paribus. First, a single regression equation is run for educational attainment subgroups at the time of taking the AFQT. Second, a regression equation including total lifetime educational attainment, and one that excludes it, are run to examine potential co-linearity between AFQT score and educational attainment. The results show that AFQT is significant and positively related to adulthood income.

Recommended Citation

Kanarek, Jaret (2013) "Youth Aptitude as a Predictor of Adulthood Income," Undergraduate Economic Review: Vol. 10: Iss. 1, Article 9.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/uer/vol10/iss1/9