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The knowledge lift: The Swedish adult education program that aimed to eliminate low worker skill levels

Author

Listed:
  • Albrecht, James

    (Georgetown University)

  • van den Berg, Gerard J

    (Institue for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy)

  • Vroman, Susan

    (Georgetown University)

Abstract

The Swedish adult education program called Knowledge Lift is unprecedented in its size and scope, aiming to raise the skill level of all low-skilled workers towards the medium level. This paper evaluates the effects of program participation on individual labor market outcomes, notably employment and annual income, as well as on the labor market equilibrium. For the effects at the individual level we apply fixed effect methods allowing for treatment effect heterogeneity. The data are based on a number of matched longitudinal administrative data sets covering the full population of Sweden. For the equilibrium effects we analyze an equilibrium search model with heterogeneous worker skills. This model is calibrated using pre-program observations.

Suggested Citation

  • Albrecht, James & van den Berg, Gerard J & Vroman, Susan, 2004. "The knowledge lift: The Swedish adult education program that aimed to eliminate low worker skill levels," Working Paper Series 2004:17, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:ifauwp:2004_017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Returns to education; training; program evaluation; wages; participation; unemployment; schooling; Swedish labour market; selectivity bias; treatment effect;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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