The Cost of Obtaining a Four-Year Degree Is $120,000 for Low-Ability

question 35

Essay

The cost of obtaining a four-year degree is $120,000 for low-ability workers and $60,000 for high-ability workers. Suppose that workers without a four-year degree are paid lifetime wages of $500,000. For education to be an effective signal of ability, what range of lifetime earnings must be paid to workers with a four-year degree?

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Definitions:

Filtration Membrane

Membrane formed by the glomerular capillary endothelium, the basement membrane, and the podocytes of Bowman’s capsule.

Podocytes

Epithelial cell of Bowman’s capsule attached to the outer surface of the glomerular capillary basement membrane by cytoplasmic foot processes.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney, responsible for filtering blood and producing urine.

Proximal Convoluted Tubule

Part of the nephron that extends from the glomerulus to the descending limb of the loop of Henle.