The question of whether economic globalization promotes or depresses governments' education spending has attracted social scientists' attention for decades. Existing literature presents an interesting contrast between two theoretical scenarios, namely race to the top and race to the bottom. This paper attempts to adapt the debate to the…

Nationally, the labor market is seeking workers to fill the increasing number of high salary job vacancies, but those qualified to fill them are in limited supply. The skills and third-party industry credentials earned in secondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs seem a perfect fit for the student, employer, and economy. However,…

Over the postwar period in most developed countries, the university participation rate has risen steadily to well over 30 percent, although there remain differences between countries. Students from lower income families have lower participation rates than those from higher income families. The article provides an economic analysis of these…

A new approach is suggested that depends on and measures how spending on higher and basic education is really an investment in the future, not consumption spending. This is a vital distinction because investment in human capital contributes heavily to growth and development, but also to higher state tax revenue and lower Medicaid, child care,…

Previous empirical literature finds that government expenditure on higher education has a negative, or null, effect on U.S. economic growth rates. This empirical result may be driven by omission of an important variable--the privatization of higher education. Using state-level panel data from 1970 to 2005, this analysis investigates whether the…

Although datasets such as the Integrated Postsecondary Data System are available as inputs to higher education funding formulas, these datasets can be unreliable, incomplete, or unresponsive to criteria identified by state education officials. State formulas do not always match the state's economic and human capital goals. This article analyzes…

This article presents a broad overview of human capital theory and presents highlights of the most recent evidence on the private and social returns to education. A distinction is made between the narrow social returns, as traditionally estimated in the economics of education literature, and the wide social returns that include externalities. The…

Discusses the projected benefits, costs, and rates of return on human and physical capital expenditures for education and condiders alternative areas of educational investment in an effort to determine which specific expenditure areas are potentially most advantageous. (Author/JG)

Examines the connection between resource allocation and its anticipated results by emphasizing the multi-level nature of the educational system, the importance of nonpurchased resources, and the effect on learning of both the manner in which the classroom is structured and the mix of peers with whom students learn. (Author/IRT)

Overview of research on human capital, including the concept, history of studies, education as a form of human capital, issues and caveats, and role in growth theory. Concludes with current focus on human capital research. (Contains 56 references.) (Author/PKP)

Uses the human capital theory as the analytic framework for studying the monetary returns on investment in nonuniversity health personnel training in Saskatchewan. (Author/IRT)

Worsening economic conditions, reflected in mounting external debt, debt service, and structural adjustment processes have forced governments to reveal their expenditure priorities, which are largely against human capital investment activities like education. This paper examines this phenomenon, using cross-country data for Sub-Saharan Africa.…

Reviews development of the investment concept in education, analyzes some of its strengths and weaknesses, and cites recent data on the desirability of further educational investment. Identifies educational benefits that are not commonly recognized and are not usually included in economic analyses of the value of education. (Author/JG)

Provides IRORs (internal rates of return) to investment in higher education by race and sex, using data from the 1985 wave of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Black males obtain a rate of return somewhat below other subgroups. Females tend to have a larger return to an investment in education than their male counterparts. (63 references) (MLH)

Explores economic effects of increased educational expenditures on a state's economy, based on a proposal to shift $50 million from noneducational services to public education in the Arkansas state budget. This would generate a net gain of $13.1 million in total personal income and a $1 million net revenue gain. (Contains 17 footnotes.) (MLH)