巴德学院利维经济研究所-教育与经济孤立-加沙封锁在巴勒斯坦教育回归中的作用（英）

Working Paper No. 1090 Education and Economic Isolation: The Gaza Blockade’s Role in Shaping Returns to Education in Palestine by Yousuf Daas Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan Sameh Hallaq Al-Quds Bard College-Economics Program, Al-Quds University Danilo Leite Dalmon Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University Jennifer Olmsted Drew University August 2025 Correspondence author: Yousuf Daas, Email: Yousuf.2005d@gmail.com The Levy Economics Institute Working Paper Collection presents research in progress by Levy Institute scholars and conference participants. The purpose of the series is to disseminate ideas to and elicit comments from academics and professionals. Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, founded in 1986, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, independently funded research organization devoted to public service. Through scholarship and economic research, it generates viable, effective public policy responses to important economic problems that profoundly affect the quality of life in the United States and abroad. Levy Economics Institute P.O. Box 5000 Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000 http://www.levyinstitute.org Copyright © Levy Economics Institute 2025 All rights reserved ISSN 1547-366X 1 ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of the Gaza blockade on private returns to education, with a focus on regional and gender disparities in the Palestinian territories. Using data from the Palestinian Labor Force Survey (2000–2014). Results show that, generally, education yields higher returns in Gaza compared to the West Bank. Gender disparities are pronounced, with women consistently experiencing higher returns to education than men, despite systemic barriers to equitable labor market participation. The Gaza blockade itself negatively impacted wages, years of schooling, and returns to education, though women exhibited resilience by increasing their educational investment during this period. These findings show the importance of addressing structural barriers and promoting inclusive policies to mitigate the long-term consequences of conflict on human capital development. KEYWORDS: labor market, conflict economics, Gaza blockade, Gender equality, Gender wage gap, returns to education JEL CLASSIFICATION CODES: I25, J16, O15, J31 2 1. INTRODUCTION Education has long been recognized as a cornerstone of economic development, individual empowerment, and societal advancement. It serves as a critical driver of economic productivity, equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to secure employment, improve their quality of life, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Pioneering economists such as Theodore Schultz, Gary Becker, Jacob Mincer, and James Heckman significantly advanced the study of education and its returns, employing the human capital approach to analyze this phenomenon (Tansel and Daoud 2014). Their work concep