IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/b/wbk/wbpubs/2236.html
   My bibliography  Save this book

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbpubs:2236
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstreams/8a33b0d4-3754-5c12-b313-559aca0b53b1/download
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. James Albrecht & Susan Vroman, 2002. "A Matching Model with Endogenous Skill Requirements," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 43(1), pages 283-305, February.
    2. David H. Autor & Frank Levy & Richard J. Murnane, 2003. "The Skill Content of Recent Technological Change: An Empirical Exploration," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 118(4), pages 1279-1333.
    3. Albrecht, James & Navarro, Lucas & Vroman, Susan, 2010. "Efficiency in a search and matching model with endogenous participation," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 106(1), pages 48-50, January.
    4. David H. Autor & Frank Levy & Richard J. Murnane, 2003. "The Skill Content of Recent Technological Change: An Empirical Exploration," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 118(4), pages 1279-1333.
    5. Dale T. Mortensen & Christopher A. Pissarides, 1994. "Job Creation and Job Destruction in the Theory of Unemployment," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 61(3), pages 397-415.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    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. 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.
    5. repec:idb:brikps:7203 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. 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).
    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. 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.
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. Cárdenas, Mauricio & de Hoyos, Rafael & Székely, Miguel, 2015. "Out-of-school and out-of-work youth in Latin America: a persistent problem in a decade of prosperity," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 123418, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    16. 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.
    17. 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.
    18. World Bank, 2014. "Honduras Social Expenditures and Institutional Review," World Bank Publications - Reports 21804, The World Bank Group.
    19. 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.
    20. 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.
    21. 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.
    22. 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.
    23. Alaimo, Veronica & Bosch, Mariano & Kaplan, David S. & Pagés, Carmen & Ripani, Laura, 2015. "Jobs for Growth," IDB Publications (Books), Inter-American Development Bank, number 7203.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kudoh, Noritaka & Miyamoto, Hiroaki, 2025. "Robots, AI, and unemployment," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    2. Léné, Alexandre, 2011. "Occupational downgrading and bumping down: The combined effects of education and experience," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 257-269, April.
    3. Arnaud Chéron & Francois Langot & Eva Moreno‐Galbis, 2011. "Labour Market Institutions and Technological Employment," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 78(309), pages 159-186, January.
    4. Isabel Cairó & Tomaz Cajner, 2018. "Human Capital and Unemployment Dynamics: Why More Educated Workers Enjoy Greater Employment Stability," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 128(609), pages 652-682, March.
    5. Chéron, Arnaud & Langot, François & Moreno-Galbis, Eva, 2007. "The “Dynamic” of Job Competition during the ICT Revolution," IZA Discussion Papers 2671, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. David M. Arseneau & Brendan Epstein, 2018. "Efficient Mismatch," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2018-037, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    7. Christopher L. Foote & Richard W. Ryan, 2015. "Labor-Market Polarization over the Business Cycle," NBER Macroeconomics Annual, University of Chicago Press, vol. 29(1), pages 371-413.
    8. Nicola Gagliardi & Benoît Mahy & François Rycx, 2020. "Trade, GVCs, and wage inequality: Theoretical and empirical insights," Reflets et perspectives de la vie économique, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(2), pages 115-134.
    9. Cortes, Matias & Lerche, Adrian & Schönberg, Uta & Tschopp, Jeanne, 2023. "Technological Change, Firm Heterogeneity and Wage Inequality," IZA Discussion Papers 16070, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Chen, Sonja, 2016. "Adverse selection in the labour market and the demand for vocational education," CLEF Working Paper Series 3, Canadian Labour Economics Forum (CLEF), University of Waterloo.
    11. Moreno-Galbis, Eva & Tritah, Ahmed, 2016. "The effects of immigration in frictional labor markets: Theory and empirical evidence from EU countries," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 76-98.
    12. Carrillo-Tudela, Carlos & Hobijn, Bart & She, Powen & Visschers, Ludo, 2016. "The extent and cyclicality of career changes: Evidence for the U.K," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 18-41.
    13. Sandra Silva & Jorge Valente & Aurora Teixeira, 2012. "An evolutionary model of industry dynamics and firms’ institutional behavior with job search, bargaining and matching," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 7(1), pages 23-61, May.
    14. Huang, Yuhong & Gao, Yajia, 2024. "The impact of financial technology on employment: Protection or disruption?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    15. Fabián Slonimczyk, 2013. "Earnings inequality and skill mismatch in the U.S.: 1973–2002," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 11(2), pages 163-194, June.
    16. Carlos Carrillo-Tudela & Fraser Summerfield & Ludo Visschers, 2025. "Workers' Task and Employer Mobility over the Business Cycle," Edinburgh School of Economics Discussion Paper Series 315, Edinburgh School of Economics, University of Edinburgh.
    17. René Böheim & Michael Christl, 2022. "Mismatch unemployment in Austria: the role of regional labour markets for skills," Regional Studies, Regional Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(1), pages 208-222, December.
    18. Carlos Carrillo‐Tudela & Ludo Visschers, 2023. "Unemployment and Endogenous Reallocation Over the Business Cycle," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 91(3), pages 1119-1153, May.
    19. Azio Barani, 2021. "Innovazione tecnologica e lavoro: automazione, occupazione e impatti socio-economici," QUADERNI DI ECONOMIA DEL LAVORO, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(114), pages 51-79.
    20. Brad Hershbein & Lisa B. Kahn, 2018. "Do Recessions Accelerate Routine-Biased Technological Change? Evidence from Vacancy Postings," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(7), pages 1737-1772, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wbk:wbpubs:2236. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Tal Ayalon (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/dvewbus.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.