Economic Brief
Expanding the Scope of Workforce Development
Workforce development efforts often are geared toward adult workers. But examining workforce development from the perspective of human capital theory suggests that earlier interventions may yield high returns.
Additional Resources
Carnevale, Anthony P., Jeff Strohl, and Michelle Melton, "What's It Worth? The Economic Value of College Majors," Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, May 24, 2011.
Cullen, Julie Berry, Steven D. Levitt, Erin Robertson, and Sally Sadoff, "What Can Be Done to Improve Struggling High Schools?" Journal of Economic Perspectives, Spring 2013, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 133-152.
Feik, Jamie, Rick Kaglic, and Ann Macheras, "Workforce Investment in Times of Need and Fiscal Constraint," Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Econ Focus, Third Quarter 2013, pp. 40-43.
Heckman, James J., "Schools, Skills, and Synapses," Economic Inquiry, July 2008, vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 289-324. (A working paper version is available online.)
Hoxby, Caroline M., and Sarah Turner, "Informing Students about Their College Options: A Proposal for Broadening the Expanding College Opportunities Project," Hamilton Project Discussion Paper, June 2013.
Lacker, Jeffrey M., "Human Capital Investment as a Major Financial Decision," Speech to the Council for Economic Education, Baltimore, Md., October 4, 2013.
Nash, Betty Joyce, "Journey to Work," Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Region Focus, Fourth Quarter 2012, pp. 17-19, 38.
Ozdagli, Ali K., and Nicholas Trachter, "On the Distribution of College Dropouts: Household Wealth and Uninsurable Idiosyncratic Risk," Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Working Paper 11-8, July 18, 2011.
Stinebrickner, Todd, and Ralph Stinebrickner, "Learning about Academic Ability and the College Dropout Decision," Journal of Labor Economics, October 2012, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 707-748.
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