Dissertation Defense Schedule
Academic Excellence
Sharing original dissertation research is a principle to which the University of Delaware is deeply committed. It is the single most important assignment our graduate students undertake and upon completion is met with great pride.
We invite you to celebrate this milestone by attending their dissertation defense. Please review the upcoming dissertation defense schedule below and join us!
PROGRAM | Urban Affairs & Public Policy
Estimating Unmeasured Variables in Development: Quantifying Faith in an Economic Model of Human Capital
By: David Barnes Chair: Jonathan Justice
ABSTRACT
Two unique contributions to economic literature are a method to measure faith validly from
non-religious World Bank survey data and the robust inclusion of this faith variable in a standard
Mincer model of returns to human capital. Behrman and Deolalikar found returns to schooling are
overestimated in an OLS regression when significant unmeasured household variables are excluded.
However, they did not suggest what variables were excluded. Historically, aspects of culture or
character, identified from the individual to national levels, have been used as proxies for such
qualitative variables and then correlated with earnings, which is a proxy for outcomes. Culture and
character certainly can appear at the household level and correlate with both macro- and
microeconomic outcomes. Yet, though such variables are recognized as determinants of economic
outcomes, often they are excluded due to challenges in measuring the subjective data. This paper
employs a theory from human development literature to research Faith Maturity as a universal,
non-religious trait to better estimate Behrman and Deolalikar’s unmeasured household variables. The
study adapts qualitative World Bank Surveys from Albania 2002—2004 to estimate faith maturity in
households as related to individual wage rates. The results find a typical 6.5% return to
schooling in and a 25% return per level of faith, with two levels possible.
Results do not show excluding this variable over-inflated returns to schooling.
The Process
Step-by-Step
Visit our “Step-by-Step Graduation Guide” to take you through the graduation process.From formatting your Dissertation to Doctoral Hooding procedures.
Dissertation Manual
Wondering how to set up the format for your paper. Refer to the “UD Thesis/Dissertation Manual” for formatting requirements and more.
Defense Submission Form
This form must be completed two weeks in advance of a dissertation defense to meet the University of Delaware Graduate and Professional Education’s requirements.
