Hardback
The Overeducated Worker?
The Economics of Skill Utilization
9781840641554 Edward Elgar Publishing
This argument challenges the policy of many developed countries to attach ever greater importance to knowledge as a means to increase international competitiveness. The authors in this book provide insights into the role of education in society by investigating the extent to which these arguments of overeducation and upgrading are valid. They bring together different approaches to obtain a complete picture of the debate in economics about under-utilization of skills and bumping down.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
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It is often suggested in policy debates that the employment of highly educated workers in jobs traditionally held by lower skilled workers leads to skill wastage and a worsening labour market position for the less educated. This process is generally referred to as ‘bumping down’ or ‘crowding out’.
This argument challenges the policy of many developed countries to attach ever greater importance to knowledge as a means to increase international competitiveness. The authors in this book provide insights into the role of education in society by investigating the extent to which these arguments of overeducation and upgrading are valid. They bring together different approaches to obtain a complete picture of the debate in economics about under-utilization of skills and bumping down.
This argument challenges the policy of many developed countries to attach ever greater importance to knowledge as a means to increase international competitiveness. The authors in this book provide insights into the role of education in society by investigating the extent to which these arguments of overeducation and upgrading are valid. They bring together different approaches to obtain a complete picture of the debate in economics about under-utilization of skills and bumping down.
Critical Acclaim
‘The theoretical models of overeducation are a very welcome addition to the available research in this area. Thus, this book represents a very worthwhile contribution to an aspect of the economics literature that is perhaps not as well known as it should be, given its importance for public policy debates.’
– S. McIntosh, Education Economics
‘Is more education the key to economic growth or are there already too many educated people to fill the jobs that actually require education? This is the $64 million question in manpower economics. In this book, eighteen authors in six different countries throw new light on the perennial question. The Great Debate about skill utilization will never be the same again.’
– The late Mark Blaug, formerly of the University of London and University of Buckingham, UK
– S. McIntosh, Education Economics
‘Is more education the key to economic growth or are there already too many educated people to fill the jobs that actually require education? This is the $64 million question in manpower economics. In this book, eighteen authors in six different countries throw new light on the perennial question. The Great Debate about skill utilization will never be the same again.’
– The late Mark Blaug, formerly of the University of London and University of Buckingham, UK
Contributors
Contributors: D. Ashton, R. Asplund, H. Battu, L. Borghans, A. Bruinshoofd, B. Burchell, B. Davies, A. Felstead, P. Gautier, F. Green, A. de Grip, L. Groot, A. Hoek, R. Lilja, J. Muysken, I. Nicaise, P. Sloane, B. ter Weel, E. Wolff, T. Zwick
Contents
Contents: Introduction 1. The Debate in Economics about Skill Utilization Part I: Underutilization or Upgrading? 2. Technology and the Demand for Skills 3. Has the Finnish Labour Market Bumped the Least Educated? 4. Are British Workers Becoming More Skilled? Part II: Causes of Underutilization 5. Overeducation and Crowding Out of Low-skilled Workers 6. Over-qualification makes Low-wage Employment Attractive 7. Overeducation and Crowding Out in Britain 8. The Effect of Bumping Down on Wages: an Empirical Test Part III: Consequences of Underutilization of Skills 9. Low Wages, Skills and the Utilization of Skills 10. Do More High-skilled Workers Occupy Simple Jobs During Bad Times? 11. Job Competition in the Dutch Labour Market Index
