What is a doctorate worth? : an analysis of the monetary and non-monetary returns from a PhD

Abstract

"The aim of this study is to analyse, with the help of data from the panel of graduates of the College Information System (Hochschul-Informations-System), for those who undertook their doctorates in the examination year 2001 (HIS-Absolventenpanel 2001), what shape the returns from a doctorate took in 2006/07 for differing subject groups. In doing so, we are not only looking at the 'hard' factors 'participation in gainful employment' and, above all, 'salary' but are also interested in other aspects of adequate employment and employment satisfaction. While it is true that these latter factors reflect the subjective viewpoint of the persons surveyed, these and similar indicators in the respective literature have proved to be valid predictors of - for instance - a change of employment. Below we briefly investigate how completed doctorates have developed in the recent past, sketch - likewise briefly - the theoretical framework and the empirical evidence available up to now, and following an overview of the data and methods used, present the results of our analysis." (Text excerpt, IAB-Doku)

Cite article

Heineck, G. & Matthes, B. (2012): Zahlt sich der Doktortitel aus? Eine Analyse zu monetären und nicht-monetären Renditen der Promotion. In: N. Huber, A. Schelling & S. Hornbostel (Hrsg.) (2012): Der Doktortitel zwischen Status und Qualifikation (IFQ working paper, 12), p. 85-99.