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Experience and the returns to education and skill in OECD countries: Evidence of employer learning?

Author

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  • Stijn Broecke

Abstract

Using the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), this paper documents how the returns to education and skill change with experience for a sample of 22 OECD countries. It does this within the framework of the Altonji and Pierret (2001) employer learning model, and therefore also tests the relevance of this theory in a wide range of countries using comparable data and a consistent methodology. Significant heterogeneity is found in the experience profiles of the returns to education and skill across countries, and convincing evidence in support of the employer learning theory is only found in a sub-set of the countries analysed. While these countries vary significantly from one another in terms of their labour market institutions and educational systems, the analysis does seem to suggest that employer learning is most common in those countries where employment protection legislation on temporary contracts is weak. This is consistent with a model in which temporary contracts allow employers to test and learn about young workers, and give them the flexibility to adjust wages in line with observed productivity. JEL codes: J24, J32, D83 Keywords: Employer learning, returns to education, returns to skill

Suggested Citation

  • Stijn Broecke, 2015. "Experience and the returns to education and skill in OECD countries: Evidence of employer learning?," OECD Journal: Economic Studies, OECD Publishing, vol. 2015(1), pages 123-147.
    • Handle: RePEc:oec:ecokac:5jrs3sqrvzg5
    DOI: 10.1787/eco_studies-2015-5jrs3sqrvzg5
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mane, Ferran & Miravet, Daniel, 2016. "Using the job requirements approach and matched employer-employee data to investigate the content of individuals' human capital," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 49(2), pages 133-155.
    2. Ulrich Hommel & Ben Woods, 2021. "Squeezing the Middle: the Consequences of Quality Oversight in Management Education," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(1), pages 96-114, March.
    3. Jong-Wha Lee & Dainn Wie, 2017. "Returns to Education and Skills in the Labor Market: Evidence from Japan and Korea," Asian Economic Policy Review, Japan Center for Economic Research, vol. 12(1), pages 139-160, January.
    4. Sofie Cabus & Joanna Napierala & Stephanie Carretero, 2021. "The Returns to Non-Cognitive Skills: A Meta-Analysis," JRC Working Papers on Labour, Education and Technology 2021-06, Joint Research Centre.
    5. Wang, Jun & Li, Bo, 2020. "Does employer learning with statistical discrimination exist in China? Evidence from Chinese Micro Survey Data," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 319-333.
    6. Harry Patrinos & Suhas Parandekar & Ekaterina Melianova & Artem Volgin, 2020. "Returns to Education in the Russian Federation," World Bank Publications - Reports 33976, The World Bank Group.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    employer learning; returns to education; returns to skill;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D84 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Expectations; Speculations
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions

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