| The following essays analyze the impact of short-term economic fluctuations on individual and household educational decisions.;The first essay investigates how the business cycle affects a household's decision on the timing of kindergarten enrollment. For some 5 year-olds, waiting an additional year beyond the designated age of eligibility for kindergarten enrollment can potentially result in long-term academic benefits. Although delayed entry affords an opportunity for further social and intellectual development prior to the start of formal education, there is a significant financial and time burden associated with not enrolling once legally eligible, specifically the cost of daycare, preschool, or home care; the next best alternatives to public elementary school. Broadly, the results presented in this study indicate that during economic downturns kindergarten enrollment increases. The empirical analysis is motivated by a simple model of the relationship between kindergarten enrollment eligibility, the timing of enrollment, the cost of alternatives to kindergarten, a child's future academic success, and how budget and time constraints are impacted by short-term economic fluctuations.;The second chapter explores the impact of fluctuations in entry-level labor market conditions on graduate school enrollment decisions directly after earning an undergraduate degree. Focusing on data for recently graduated science and engineering undergraduates, this essay finds that advanced degree enrollment patterns vary across the business cycle by undergraduate major, grade point average (GPA), gender, and advanced degree type.;The final chapter investigates and documents the rising trend in employment among those enrolled in college. From 1968 to 2003, student employment increased from 36 percent to 51 percent. This essay examines the role of state-level economic conditions, tuition, cohort size, type of institution, and individual and household characteristics on the probability of being employed while enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. |
