Melanie A. Zaber

@MelanieZaber on Twitter

Economist; Codirector, Middle-Class Pathways Center

Pittsburgh Office

Education

Ph.D. in economics and public policy, Carnegie Mellon University; B.S. in economics, policy studies, Syracuse University

One Page Bio

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

Melanie Zaber (she/her) is an economist at the RAND Corporation and codirector of the Middle-Class Pathways Center. She has diverse research interests spanning workforce development, postsecondary education, gender equity, and access to civil justice. Her research has examined household transitions (coresidence, marriage, divorce, bankruptcy), analyzed workforce pipelines (principals, military linguists, building tradespeople), and explored postsecondary finance (market power, state grant aid, student debt). Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Institute for Civil Justice, and the Social Security Administration. Current projects include an exploration of the persistence of women in STEM careers and an analysis of the longer-term education and career outcomes of participants in a high school youth development program. Zaber received her Ph.D. in economics and public policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

Research Focus

Selected Publications

Matthew D. Baird, Robert Bozick, and Melanie A. Zaber, "Beyond traditional academic degrees: The labor market returns to occupational credentials in the United States," IZA Journal of Labor Economics, 2022

Rennane, Stephanie, Hannah Acheson-Field, Kathryn A. Edwards, Grace Gahlon, and Melanie A. Zaber, "Leak or link? the overrepresentation of women in non-tenure-track academic positions in STEM," PloS one, 2022

Karney, Benjamin R., Jeffrey B. Wenger, Melanie A. Zaber, and Thomas N. Bradbury, "State minimum wage increases delay marriage and reduce divorce among low‐wage households," Journal of Marriage and Family, 2022

Haller, Melissa, Jeffrey B. Wenger, Melanie A. Zaber, and George W. Zuo, "A Consumption-Based Definition of the Middle Class," Social Indicators Research, 2022

C Doss, MA Zaber, BK Master, SM Gates, L Hamilton, "The Relationship Between Measures of Preservice Principal Practice and Future Principal Job Performance," Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 2021

Epple, Dennis; Romano, Richard; Sarpca, Sinan; Sieg, Holger, Zaber, Melanie, "Market Power and Price Discrimination in the U.S. Market for Higher Education," RAND Journal of Economics, 2019

Black, Dan; Taylor, Lowell; Zaber, Melanie, "Empirical Evidence in the Study of Labor Markets: Opportunities and Challenges for a New Household Survey," Journal of Economic Analysis and Social Measurement, 2015

Rohlfs, Chris; Zilora, Melanie, "Estimating Parents' Valuation of Class Size Reductions Using Attrition in the Tennessee STAR Experiment," The BE Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 2014

Commentary

Military Education and Training

Making the Most of JROTC
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) units in U.S. schools have drawn intensive scrutiny of late, and some districts might consider dropping JROTC. But they should take stock of what they'll lose. Students who choose to enroll in JROTC and stick with it do better in school than their peers.
May 26, 2023
The RAND Blog
Socioeconomic Status

Most Americans Consider Themselves Middle-Class. But Are They?
There are different ways of determining who should be considered middle-class. But there is one thing they have in common: All reveal that the middle class in the United States is shrinking.
May 14, 2021
ProMarket
Work-Family Conflicts

Supporting Working Parents Could Accelerate Recovery
Since the COVID-19 recession started last February, almost 3 million women have left the labor force. With vaccines rolling out, will they go back to work? There are several policies that could help.
Jan 15, 2021
The RAND Blog
Work-Family Conflicts

Working Moms at Risk of Being Left Behind in Economic Recovery
Being a working parent was hard enough before the pandemic. If COVID-19 intensifies the perception that parenting is at odds with work, then there may be devastating career consequences for working mothers.
Jun 11, 2020
United Press International
Women's Health

Women and COVID-19: Studying the Impact of Sex and Gender
Much of current medical evidence is based largely on men. The current COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to examine the potential value of asking questions about sex and gender differences to inform ongoing policy decisions.
Apr 13, 2020
The RAND Blog
Workforce Management

Should the Federal Workforce Stay Remote? Planning for After the Crisis
As physical distancing becomes the new norm, so too does telework. But should federal agencies maintain their remote operations for the long haul? As those of us involved with national security agencies, operations, and workforce issues know, this is not a decision to make lightly.
Apr 3, 2020
The RAND Blog
Students

Navigating College and Career Readiness in a Time of Uncertainty
How we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic today will likely have longer-term effects. This means that we need to think about people who are actively preparing for that future: high school students looking to enter college and careers.
Mar 26, 2020
The RAND Blog
Postsecondary Education

Income Share Agreements: What's Risky, What's Promising, and What We Still Need to Know
While policymakers debate options to address college affordability and the nation's mounting student loan debt, an alternative education financing model has been gaining ground in a handful of schools and state legislatures: the income share agreement. While terms vary from institution to institution, they are all based on the same premise: The more income a graduate makes, the more they will pay back.
Jun 5, 2019
The RAND Blog

Publications

Report
The Impact of Army JROTC Participation on School and Career Outcomes
To understand the relationship between participating in the U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AJROTC) program and longer-term outcomes, the authors analyzed longitudinal student data and Army service member records.
Mar 7, 2023
Report
Assessing Pittsburgh's Science- and Technology-Focused Workforce Ecosystem
RAND Corporation researchers characterize the science- and technology-focused (STF) workforce ecosystem in the Pittsburgh region and suggest policy changes and investment opportunities to help propel the region's STF sectors in the future.
Jan 9, 2023
Tool
Science and Technology-Focused Postsecondary Options in the Pittsburgh Area
RAND researchers compiled a list of science- and technology-focused (STF) providers and programs in the Pittsburgh area. Potential students can filter the list to find out which types of degrees or certificates can be earned in which STF fields.
Jan 9, 2023
Report
Societal Impact of Research Funding for Women's Health in Lung Cancer
The authors find that small investments are likely to yield large gains from increasing research funding in lung cancer; investing in women's health research yields benefits above investing in general research.
Nov 1, 2022
Draft
Research Funding for Women's Health: A Modeling Study of Societal Impact: Findings for Lung Cancer
Using microsimulation analyses, examines the societal cost impact of increasing research funding in lung cancer.
Nov 1, 2022
Journal Article
Leak or Link? the Overrepresentation of Women in Non-Tenure-Track Academic Positions in STEM
This paper examines gender variation in departures from the tenure-track science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) academic career pathway to non-tenure-track academic careers.
Jul 7, 2022
Research Brief
Six Skills for Success: How the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program Can Support Participants in Developing Portable Skills Employers Value
The authors of this research identify a set of common skills among high-paying, growing occupations that do not require a bachelor's degree for possible incorporation into the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program curriculum.
Jun 30, 2022
Journal Article
State Minimum Wage Increases Delay Marriage and Reduce Divorce Among Low-Wage Households
Across data sources, among men and women earning low wages, a one-dollar increase in the state minimum wage predicts a 3%–6% decline in marriage entry and a 7%–15% decline in divorce one and 2 years later.
Mar 16, 2022
Report
What Are the Skills Required to Obtain a Good Job? An Analysis of Labor Markets, Occupational Features, and Skill Training for the Youth ChalleNGe Program
The authors of this report identify a set of common skills among high-paying, growing occupations that do not require a bachelor's degree and describe how to incorporate such broader skills into the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program curriculum.
Feb 4, 2022
Draft
Research Funding for Women's Health: A Modeling Study of Societal Impact: Findings for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Using microsimulation analyses, the authors examined the societal cost impact of increasing research funding in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Jan 25, 2022
Report
Societal Impact of Research Funding for Women's Health in Rheumatoid Arthritis
The authors find that small investments are likely to yield large gains from increasing research funding in rheumatoid arthritis; investing in women's health research yields benefits above investing in general research.
Jan 25, 2022
Journal Article
A Consumption-Based Definition of the Middle Class
In this paper, we develop a consumption-based measure of the middle class that closely follows economic theory of constrained optimization.
2022
Report
Research Funding for Women's Health: Modeling Societal Impact
Researchers examined the impact of increasing funding for women's health research, with a focus on the following three disease areas: brain health, immune and autoimmune disease, and cardiovascular disease.
Oct 11, 2021
Draft
Research Funding for Women's Health: A Modeling Study of Societal Impact: Findings for Coronary Artery Disease
Using microsimulation analyses, the authors examined the societal cost impact of increasing research funding in Coronary Artery Disease.
Oct 11, 2021
Report
Societal Impact of Research Funding for Women's Health in Coronary Artery Disease
The authors find that small investments are likely to yield large gains from increasing research funding in coronary artery disease; investing in women's health research yields benefits above investing in general research.
Oct 11, 2021
Report
The Future of New Jersey's Tuition Aid Grant: A Review of Options and Evidence
RAND Corporation experts prepared this report to address several key issues that are a priority for the New Jersey state government surrounding its Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) program for low-income college students.
Aug 5, 2021
Report
Are Income Share Agreements Fair? A Close Look at the Potential Risks and Benefits of an Emerging Financial Aid Option
The authors examine the benefits and risks of the income share agreement, a novel mechanism for students to finance postsecondary education through which students can obtain funding for school in exchange for a share of future income.
May 26, 2021
Draft
Research Funding for Women's Health: A Modeling Study of Societal Impact: Findings for Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementia Model
Using microsimulation analyses, examines the societal cost impact of increasing research funding in Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease related disorders.
Apr 22, 2021
Report
Societal Impact of Research Funding for Women's Health in Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease–Related Dementias
The authors find that small investments can yield large gains from increasing research funding in Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease–related dementias; investing in women's health research yields benefits above investing in general research.
Apr 22, 2021
Report
Limited Opportunity: Changes in Employment and the American Middle Class
Belonging to the American middle class has become more challenging. The authors of this Perspective discuss the subtle but important changes that have blocked many pathways into the middle class and propose starting points for building new ones.
Apr 22, 2021
Draft
Beyond Traditional Academic Degrees: The Labor Market Returns to Occupational Credentials in the United States
Estimates the effect of occupational credentials on labor market outcomes.
Apr 13, 2021
Report
Trends in Postsecondary Education
Education levels have been rising for the past 50 years, but declining public support for higher education, rising costs of college attendance, and low college completion rates threaten young adults' pathway to a two- or four-year college degree.
Mar 25, 2021
Report
Who Is Middle Class?
Depending on definition, the middle class has been either receiving less income (as a share of total) or shrinking in size since the 1970s. Lower-income Americans and their children will likely have limited opportunities for upward mobility.
Feb 25, 2021
Report
Cutting the College Price TAG: The Effects of New Jersey's Tuition Aid Grant on College Persistence and Completion
RAND researchers studied more than 450,000 recipients of New Jersey's Tuition Aid Grant to explore whether larger amounts of grant aid led to higher graduation rates for students at varying income levels and types of institutions.
Feb 4, 2021
Research Brief
Would Low-Income Students Graduate Faster with a Boost in Financial Aid? Results from a Natural Experiment in New Jersey
New Jersey's Tuition Aid Grant—the nation's most generous state-funded grant program per state resident college student—increased the rate of on-time bachelor's degree completion at public universities for low-income students who received it.
Feb 4, 2021
Testimony
Reimagining the Workforce Development and Employment System: How a More Connected System Can Support Students, Workers, and Firms
Testimony presented before the Florida House of Representatives Education & Employment Committee on January 26, 2021.
Jan 26, 2021
Report
Challenges and Opportunities for the Puerto Rico Economy: A Review of Evidence and Options Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017
The authors review Puerto Rico's economic history and provide analysis following the 2017 hurricane season that serves as the context for a set of principles and actions in the recovery plan for rebuilding a healthy economy.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Supporting a 21st Century Workforce in Puerto Rico: Challenges and Options for Improving Puerto Rico's Workforce System Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017
A workforce development system that supports Puerto Rico's economic development requires a K through postsecondary education system that emphasizes individuals' career pathways and aligns training with the evolving labor market and business needs.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Teacher and Principal Perspectives on Supports for Students' College and Career Pathways: Findings from the American Educator Panels
In this report, the authors investigate the link between school context and school-provided college and career pathway supports to better understand potential causes of gaps in student postgraduation outcomes.
Mar 26, 2020
Report
Reimagining the Workforce Development and Employment System for the 21st Century and Beyond
U.S. education, training, and workforce development have not significantly changed despite 21st-century needs. To address this, RAND Corporation researchers developed a systems-level, blue-sky approach to rethinking system functions and features.
Sep 19, 2019
Research Brief
A System That Works: How a New Workforce Development and Employment System Can Meet the Needs of Employers, Workers, and Other Stakeholders
U.S. education, training, and workforce development have not significantly changed despite 21st-century needs. This research brief details a systems-level, blue-sky approach to rethinking the current workforce development and employment system.
Sep 19, 2019
Report
Preparing School Leaders for Success: Evaluation of New Leaders' Aspiring Principals Program, 2012–2017
This report analyzes whether schools and students led by graduates of New Leaders‘ Aspiring Principals program outperformed comparison schools and students in the same district.
Feb 25, 2019
Journal Article
Market Power and Price Discrimination in the US Market for Higher Education
We estimate an equilibrium model of private and public college competition and pricing using the NPSAS. We find substantial exercise of inefficient market power and, importantly, sizable variation by both college quality and student characteristics.
Feb 15, 2019
Draft
The Safety Nest: A Model of Family Coresidence
Uses linked sibling data from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79) to investigate the presence of a relationship between young adult and elderly coresidence within families.
Mar 1, 2018