In:
Southern Economic Journal, Wiley, Vol. 84, No. 2 ( 2017-10), p. 600-636
Abstract:
There is substantial evidence on the importance of education as a driver of earnings, productivity, and economic growth. However, knowledge of the specific role of associate's degrees in U.S. economic growth is limited. We analyze the sources of U.S. economic growth and identify the contribution of associate's degree holders to improvements in earnings, labor quality, productivity, and overall economic growth. We find evidence that substitution toward workers with associate's degrees has increased U.S. earnings, aggregate labor quality, and productivity, and that these effects are concentrated in the health care, trade, and government sectors. While the average educational attainment of people entering the labor force has plateaued, our results suggest that shifting workers from some college to associate degrees could improve earnings, the quality of the workforce, productivity, and growth, potentially without more time spent in school.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0038-4038
,
2325-8012
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2017
detail.hit.zdb_id:
219272-X
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2067038-2
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