The Handbooks in Economics series continues to provide the various branches of economics with handbooks which are definitive reference sources, suitable for use by professional researchers, advanced graduate students, or by those seeking a teaching supplement. With contributions from leading researchers, each Handbook presents an accurate,…

Examines labor-market value of the General Educational Development (GED) credential for females. Finds that among females who dropped out of high school with weak basic math skills, those with a GED have accumulated more work experience and have higher labor-market earning in their mid-20s than have observationally similar dropouts lacking the GED…

Estimates earning differentials for knowledge of 13 minority languages in three Canadian cities. Conditional on knowledge of a majority language, knowledge of a minority language relates to lower earnings, though the negative differential diminishes for languages with large local populations. This suggests a positive human capital effect that is…

Examines whether devoting more resources to education can positively affect the distribution of income within a country. Finds that public-education expenditures appear to be associated with a subsequent decrease in the level of income inequality. Finding is robust to the inclusion of various control variables and appears to be larger in…

The 1980s and 1990s have been decades of quite good economic growth in North America and much of Western Europe. But how have the fruits of growth been shared? This paper reviews changing income distributions in the U.S., Germany and the Netherlands. These three countries may be taken as exemplars and leading economic performers in "the three…

The theory of human capital has made a significant impact on the practice of modern labor economics. At a broad and general level, the concept of human capital has obvious appeal for its simplicity, analytical power, and relationship to economic theory. The fundamental problem in labor economics is the determination of wage rates and earnings;…

This paper analyzes the effects of language practice on earnings among adult male immigrants in Canada using data from the 1991 Census of Canada. It examines whether destination language skills are complements to or substitutes in generating earnings with respect to other kinds of human capital (schooling and pre- and post-migration labor market…

This paper examines the determinants and consequences of immigrant/linguistic concentrations (enclaves), discussing reasons for the formation of those concentrations. It develops hypotheses regarding "ethnic goods" (market and non-market goods and services consumed by members of an immigrant/ethnic group that are not consumed by others), the…

A regression analysis of 1966 National Longitudinal Survey data compared the human capital returns of employees with those of self-employed owners of nonfarm businesses, using information on income, grade completed, race, vocational training, and other variables. Results indicate the human capital returns were basically similar for both groups.…

The paper attempts measurement of the long-run effects of increased school spending. School expenditures are found to influence how many years of schooling an individual eventually receives, and the chief effect of spending differences on lifetime income is found to work through this school continuation link. (Author)

This paper sketches some highlights of research in the economics of education since 1960. (CD)

Suggests that questions of motivation and learning are central to the concept of human capital. Reviews motives for learning in education and work. Highlights the goals that motivate human endeavor. Concludes with two challenges for those who work with concepts of human capital and development. (CAJ)

This article updates evidence on the returns to investment in education by adding estimates for new countries and refining existing estimates to bring the total number of country cases to over 60. Evidence reinforces earlier patterns, namely, that returns are highest for primary education, the general curricula, the education of women, and…

Drawing on human capital, social capital, and acculturation theories, gender differences in income were examined among 7,760 self-employed Hispanic Americans in California, using 1990 census data. Hispanic self-employed women earned less than Hispanic self-employed men and were more likely to be in service occupations. Having less than a high…

Provides empirical evidence concerning the education/earnings distribution relationship in South Africa. Investment in education is directly related to earnings across racial groups. An increase in the average education level is associated with a narrower dispersion of earnings. A more equal education distribution is associated with a more equal…