Long-term consequences of Vietnam-era conscription
Subtitle: schooling, experience, and earnings
By: Joshua D. Angrist, Stacey H. Chen.
Contributors: Chen, Stacey H., 1969-; National Bureau of Economic Research.
Series: NBER working paper series -- working paper 13411.; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research) -- working paper no. 13411.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Cambridge, Mass
Language: eng
Number of pages: 26
Subjects: Draft -- United States -- History -- 20th century; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Economic aspects -- Econometric models; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Health aspects -- Econometric models; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Social aspects -- Econometric models
Description: This paper uses the 2000 Census 1-in-6 sample to look at the long-term impact of Vietnam-era military service. Instrumental Variables estimates using draft-lottery instruments show post-service earnings losses close to zero in 2000, in contrast with earlier results showing substantial earnings losses for white veterans in the 1970s and 1980s. The estimates also point to a marked increase in schooling that appears to be attributable to the Vietnam-era GI Bill. The net wage effects observed in the 2000 data can be explained by a flattening of the experience profile in middle age and a modest return to the increased schooling generated by the GI Bill. Evidence on disability effects is mixed but seems inconsistent with a long-term effect of Vietnam-era military service on health.
Notes: "September 2007."

Includes bibliographical references (p. [48]-[51]).

Also available in PDF from the NBER World Wide Web site (www.nber.org).