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General Training by Firms, Apprentice Contracts, and Public Policy

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Listed:
  • James Malcomson
  • James W. Maw
  • University of Swansea Wales
  • Barry McCormick
  • University of Southampton

Abstract

Workers will not pay for general on-the-job training if contracts are not enforceable. Firms may if there are mobility frictions. Private information about worker productivities, however, prevents workers who quit receiving their marginal products elsewhere. Their new employers then receive external benefits from their training. In this paper, training firms increase profits by offering apprenticeships which commit firms to high wages for those trainees retained on completion. At these high wages, only good workers are retained. This signals their productivity and reduces the external benefits if they subsequently quit. Regulation of apprenticeship length (a historically important feature) enhances efficiency. Appropriate subsidies enhance it further. This paper is now published at the reference given below, however the unpublished appendices are available to be downloaded.

Suggested Citation

  • James Malcomson & James W. Maw & University of Swansea Wales & Barry McCormick & University of Southampton, 2002. "General Training by Firms, Apprentice Contracts, and Public Policy," Economics Series Working Papers 86, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:oxf:wpaper:86
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    contract enforceability; apprenticeships; regulation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy

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