Educational human capital and economic growth: A literature review[Capital humain éducatif et croissance économique : revue de la littérature]

This study synthesizes research on the relationship between educational human capital and economic growth. The approach is exclusively theoretical and is based on a review of the existing literature. We limited our selection to the most influential studies, chosen randomly. From this review, we distinguished two main categories of education studies: those focusing on the quantity of education and those examining its quality. This distinction often leads to contradictory results, thereby enhancing the interest of our analysis. The examination of the studies reveals a notable methodological diversity, both in how education is measured and in the econometric specifications of the models. The geographical contexts and studied periods also vary, further complicating the interpretation of the results. The conclusions are mixed: some studies demonstrate a significant positive effect of education on growth, while others do not identify a clear link or even suggest a negative impact. Economists focused on quantity argue that access to education is the main driver of growth. In contrast, those focused on quality contend that growth cannot be sustainable without investing in quality skills, whether cognitive or non-cognitive, as these skills are crucial for innovation and competitiveness in the global market.