The Rising Return to Noncognitive Skill

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
Year: 2022
Volume: 14
Issue: 2
Pages: 78-100

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper uses administrative data from Sweden to document trends in the labor market returns to skills. Between 1992 and 2013, the economic return to noncognitive skill⁠—a psychologist-assessed measure of teamwork and leadership skill⁠—roughly doubled. The return to cognitive skill was relatively stable and decreased modestly during the 2000s, however. Among men with similar levels of education, the return to noncognitive skill is higher than the return to cognitive skill. The increasing return to noncognitive skill is driven by changes at the top of the wage distribution and by sorting into higher-paying occupations.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejapp:v:14:y:2022:i:2:p:78-100
Journal Field
General
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-25