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Skills for the 21st Century in Latin America and the Caribbean

Author

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  • Ian Walker
  • Cristian Aedo

Abstract

There is growing interest, worldwide, in the link between education systems and the production of skills that are valued in the labor market. With growth stagnating and unemployment soaring in much of the world, educators are being asked to focus more on producing skills that feed into labor productivity and support the sustainable growth of employment and incomes. This timely volume contributes important new findings on the dynamics of education systems and labor market outcomes in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It analyzes an important recent shift in labor market trends in LAC: the first decade of the 21st century has witnessed a marked decline in the earnings premia for university and secondary education. This, in turn, is contributing to reduced income inequality across the region. The recent trend contrasts with the sharp rise in tertiary earnings premia that was observed in the 1990s and that helped to reinforce high levels of income inequality in the region at that time. The authors recommend that, having achieved very large increases in secondary and tertiary enrollment, the region should now focus on improving the quality of its education systems and the pertinence of education curricula for the needs of the labor market. At age 15, the learning achievement of the average Latin American student still lags two years behind his or her Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) contemporary. The study opens up an important agenda for future research. While the evidence presented on the trends in education earnings premia is clear, the conclusions about the causes and significance of those trends are largely based on suggestive evidence for a limited number of countries, and are not definitive because of data limitations. The findings call for further in-depth analysis of the nature of skill mismatches, to inform policies that can strengthen the region's future economic growth by enhancing the productivity and earnings potential of the workforce.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian Walker & Cristian Aedo, 2012. "Skills for the 21st Century in Latin America and the Caribbean," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2236, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbpubs:2236
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. World Bank, 2015. "Central America Social Expenditures and Institutional Review," World Bank Publications - Reports 22672, The World Bank Group.
    2. Paola Azar Dufrechou, 2018. "Electoral politics and the diffusion of primary schooling: evidence from Uruguay, 1914-1954," Working Papers wpdea1801, Department of Applied Economics at Universitat Autonoma of Barcelona.
    3. Bentaouet Kattan,Raja & Székely,Miguel, 2015. "Analyzing the dynamics of school dropout in upper secondary education in Latin America : a cohort approach," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7223, The World Bank.
    4. Emmy De Buck & Karin Hannes & Hans Van Remoortel & Thashlin Govender & Axel Vande Veegaete & Alfred Musekiwa & Vittoria Lutje & Margaret Cargo & Hans‐Joachim Mosler & Philippe Vandekerckhove & Taryn Y, 2016. "PROTOCOL: Approaches to Promote Handwashing and Sanitation Behaviour Change in Low‐ and Middle Income Countries: A Mixed Method Systematic Review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(1), pages 1-46.
    5. Marjorie Chinen & Thomas de Hoop & Lorena Alcázar & María Balarin & Josh Sennett, 2017. "Vocational and business training to improve women's labour market outcomes in low‐ and middle‐income countries: a systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(1), pages 1-195.
    6. World Bank, 2014. "Honduras Social Expenditures and Institutional Review," World Bank Publications - Reports 21804, The World Bank Group.
    7. repec:idb:brikps:7203 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Cunningham, Wendy & Villasenor, Paula, 2014. "Employer voices, employer demands, and implications for public skills development policy," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6853, The World Bank.
    9. Wendy V. Cunningham & Paula Villaseñor, 2016. "Employer Voices, Employer Demands, and Implications for Public Skills Development Policy Connecting the Labor and Education Sectors," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 31(1), pages 102-134.
    10. O'Leary, Christopher J. & Cravo, Tulio & Sierra, Ana Cristina & Justino, Leandro, 2019. "The Effect of Job Referrals on Labor Market Outcomes in Brazil," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 9509, Inter-American Development Bank.
    11. Scarlato, Margherita & D'Agostino, Giorgio, 2016. "The political economy of cash transfers: a comparative analysis of Latin American and sub-Saharan African experiences," IDOS Discussion Papers 6/2016, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    12. Peter Paz & Carlos Urrutia, 2015. "Economic Growth and Wage Stagnation in Peru: 1998–2012," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(2), pages 328-345, May.
    13. Daniel Lederman & Julián Messina & Samuel Pienknagura & Jamele Rigolini, 2014. "Latin American Entrepreneurs : Many Firms but Little Innovation [El emprendimiento en América Latina : muchas empresas y poca innovación]," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 16457, April.
    14. Verónica Alaimo & Mariano Bosch & David S. Kaplan & Carmen Pagés & Laura Ripani, 2015. "Jobs for Growth," IDB Publications (Books), Inter-American Development Bank, number 90977, February.
    15. Christopher O'Leary & Tulio Cravo & Ana Cristina Sierra & Leandro Justino, 2022. "Effects of Job Referrals on Labor Market Outcomes in Brazil," Economía Journal, The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association - LACEA, vol. 0(Spring 20), pages 157-186.
    16. Lederman, Daniel & Rojas, Diego, 2014. "Export shocks and the volatility of returns to schooling : evidence from twelve Latin American economies," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7144, The World Bank.
    17. Azevedo, Joao Pedro & Davalos, Maria Eugenia & Diaz-Bonilla, Carolina & Atuesta, Bernardo & Castaneda, Raul Andres, 2013. "Fifteen years of inequality in Latin America : how have labor markets helped ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6384, The World Bank.
    18. Azar Dufrechou, Paola, 2016. "The efficiency of public education spending in Latin America: A comparison to high-income countries," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 188-203.
    19. A. Fiszbein & C. Cosentino & B. Cumsille, "undated". "The Skills Development Challenge in Latin America: Diagnosing the Problems and Identifying Public Policy Solutions," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 6e445252b5614db2be1d4bc3f, Mathematica Policy Research.
    20. Carolina González-Velosa & Graciana Rucci & Miguel Sarzosa & Sergio Urzúa, 2015. "Returns to Higher Education in Chile and Colombia," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 88676, Inter-American Development Bank.
    21. Graciana Rucci & Fernando Saltiel & Sergio Urzúa, 2020. "Should I Stay Or Should I Go? Career Choices For Young Workers In Latin America," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 58(3), pages 1430-1449, July.
    22. Alaimo, Veronica & Bosch, Mariano & Kaplan, David S. & Pagés, Carmen & Ripani, Laura, 2015. "Jobs for Growth," IDB Publications (Books), Inter-American Development Bank, number 7203, November.
    23. Mauricio Cardenas & Rafael De Hoyos & Miguel Szekely, 2015. "Out-of-School and Out-of-Work Youth in Latin America: A Persistent Problem in a Decade of Prosperity," Economía Journal, The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association - LACEA, vol. 0(Fall 2015), pages 1-40.
    24. Miguel Székely & Pamela Mendoza, 2017. "Declining inequality in Latin America: structural shift or temporary phenomenon?," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(2), pages 204-221, April.

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