This paper analyzes the human capital training strategies adopted between the 1850s and 1930s by railroad companies in Mexico and Chile. These two countries enable one to contrast the different routes taken by the same type of firm, technology and labor force. A propos of this, we suggest that because of its complexity, capital intensity and new work methods, railway technology had a positive impact on human capital training in the cases studied. During the period when railways were the main form of land transport studied -covered by this study- they combined the labor force with foreign workers and modern technology and it was not until well into the 20th century that a formal system of technical schools was established. Instead, informal and formal learning cycles and routes tended to be followed. That is why this paper considers three aspects: I) the institutional and social factors that helped or hindered industrial operations, maintenance and production training; II) the way learning, training and talent retention cycles were shaped and talent migrated towards other activities or was dispersed or lost; and lastly, III) how training was institutionalized through what were known as “firm schools” responsible for training human capital as an internalization response to coping with shortages in the labor market.
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Paper provided by University Library of Munich, Germany in its series MPRA Paper with number
16038.
Find related papers by JEL classification: L0 - Industrial Organization - - General L32 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Public Enterprises N76 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Latin America; Caribbean L92 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Railroads and Other Surface Transportation N0 - Economic History - - General L3 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise L9 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities N7 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services
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