¿Paradoja del progreso o de la decadencia? Retornos en la educación y brechas salariales en Venezuela: 1998-2012.

The human capital theory states that education is an investment that contributes to the welfare and economic growth of countries. The social rate of return shows that the decision to invest in education is profitable for individuals and society and generates enough income to families to stay out of poverty margin. The following research paper analyzes the impact of human capital in the distribution of income, the education returns and gender wage gaps in Venezuela during the period 1998-2012, employing economic and social indicators, using an empirical estimation through a log-linear econometric model. The results show mainly the non-presence of the paradox of progress which can be categorized as a paradox of decline, caused by returns to education between 1998 and 2012, along with gaps between male and female wages whose explanation is attributable to discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]