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A Spillover-Based Theory of Credentialism

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  • Chris Bidner

    (School of Economics, University of New South Wales)

Abstract

I propose a model in which credentials, such as diplomas, are intrinsically valuable; a situation described as credentialism. The model overcomes an important criticism of signalling models by mechanically tying a worker’s wages to their productivity. A worker’s productivity is influenced by the skills of their coworkers, where such skills arise from an ability-augmenting investment that is made prior to matching with coworkers. A worker’s credentials allow them to demonstrate their investment to the labor market, thereby allowing workers to match with high-skill coworkers in equilibrium. Despite the positive externality associated with a worker’s investment, I show how over-investment is pervasive in equilibrium.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris Bidner, 2010. "A Spillover-Based Theory of Credentialism," Discussion Papers 2010-10, School of Economics, The University of New South Wales.
    • Handle: RePEc:swe:wpaper:2010-10
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    File URL: http://research.economics.unsw.edu.au/RePEc/papers/2010-10.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Masashi Tanaka, 2020. "Human capital investment, credentialing, and wage differentials," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 22(4), pages 992-1016, August.
    2. Bidner, Chris, 2010. "Pre-match investment with frictions," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 23-34, January.
    3. Nick Huntington-Klein, 2021. "Human capital versus signaling is empirically unresolvable," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 60(5), pages 2499-2531, May.
    4. Richard Chisik, 2015. "Job market signalling, stereotype threat and counter-stereotypical behaviour," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 48(1), pages 155-188, February.
    5. Chris Bidner & Guillaume Roger & Jessica Moses, 2016. "Investing in Skill and Searching for Coworkers: Endogenous Participation in a Matching Market," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 8(1), pages 166-202, February.
    6. Bilancini, Ennio & Boncinelli, Leonardo, 2014. "Instrumental cardinal concerns for social status in two-sided matching with non-transferable utility," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 174-189.
    7. Thomas Gall & Patrick Legros & Andrew Newman, 2015. "College Diversity and Investment Incentives," Working Papers 2015-001, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    8. Păcurariu Gabriela, 2019. "The Integration of Higher Education Graduates on the Labor Market," European Review of Applied Sociology, Sciendo, vol. 12(19), pages 23-32, December.
    9. Masashi Tanaka, 2013. "Human Capital Investment, Credentialing, and Wage Differentials," Discussion Papers in Economics and Business 13-31-Rev., Osaka University, Graduate School of Economics, revised Aug 2017.
    10. Gall, Thomas & Legros, Patrick & Newman, Andrew, 2012. "Mismatch, rematch, and investment," Discussion Paper Series In Economics And Econometrics 189, Economics Division, School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Credentialism; Matching; Spillovers; Signaling;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory

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