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Educational Inputs and Outcomes Before the Transition from Communism

Author

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  • Beirne, John

    (Brunel University)

  • Campos, Nauro F.

    (University College London)

Abstract

Conventional wisdom suggests that the stocks of human capital were one of the few positive legacies from communism. However, if factories under communism were so inefficient, why would the education system not have been? Using the education production function approach and new data on educational inputs and outcomes from 1960 to 1989, we find evidence suggesting that the official human capital stocks figures were “over-estimated” during the communist period. In other words, we find that the official human capital stock numbers are significantly higher than those predicted not only in relation to countries at similar levels of development, but also on the basis of educational systems with comparable features and efficiency levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Beirne, John & Campos, Nauro F., 2006. "Educational Inputs and Outcomes Before the Transition from Communism," IZA Discussion Papers 2502, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp2502
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    Cited by:

    1. Kevin Denny & Orla Doyle, 2010. "Returns to basic skills in central and eastern Europe," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 18(1), pages 183-208, January.
    2. Brixiova, Zuzana & Li, Wenli & Yousef, Tarik, 2009. "Skill shortages and labor market outcomes in Central Europe," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 45-59, March.
    3. World Bank, 2010. "Albania - The New Growth Agenda : A Country Economic Memorandum," World Bank Publications - Reports 2935, The World Bank Group.
    4. Alina Botezat & Ruben R. Seiberlich, 2013. "Educational performance gaps in Eastern Europe," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 21(4), pages 731-756, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    human capital; education; transition economies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • P27 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Performance and Prospects
    • P39 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Other

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