An earlier article in this journal is revised to reflect more accurately the data from a study by including data from Alaska and Hawaii. The study concerned the influence of investment in higher education on state workforce productivity. It is concluded that this impact is substantial, and that increased investment would raise further the growth…

The author studies the interaction between imperfect labor contracts and international trade in a setting in which workers have private information about their own abilities. When an individual's contribution to firm output can be measured accurately in some activities but not in others, the most able workers select occupations in which their pay…

The failure of industrial policy advocates to discuss Black problems reflects the unconscious influence of the mismatch idea, which asserts that individuals are out of work because they lack skills or education. Blacks suffer disproportionately from America's economic problems and are concentrated in industries which have declined in recent years.…

The growing dominance of the creative economy challenges cities and regions to move beyond the impulse toward "big ticket" economic development strategies like stadiums and convention centres and consider increased support for community-level strategies that encourage social and cultural diversity. Vibrant street scenes, eclectic…

This article discusses the difficulties involved in obtaining accurate labor force data for Third World women, from the point of view of interviewers, respondents, and labor statisticians or economists. Suggestions are then made regarding alternative definitions of the labor force and survey questionnaire structures in order to overcome some of…

The imminent educational crisis is at once economic, political, cultural, and ideological. Curriculum is discussed in relationship to Marxist ideology, conflict in the labor force, and political practice. (JN)

This volume contains four papers presented at a 1982 conference sponsored by the National Council on Employment Policy. It begins with a brief policy statement warning that labor force and productivity data systems face deterioration because of budget cuts that have forced a decline in the quality and quantity of the published information and…

Structural changes in international economy may give rise to a reemergence of full employment programs. Such initiatives must address the special problem of minority unemployment and must develop new approaches to avoid the difficulties experienced by such programs in the 1970s. Quality work for decent, secure wages must be assured. (VM)

The economic role of American women is traced from colonial times through the 19th century. In colonial America women shared the economic responsibilities of family livelihood with their husbands and were engaged primarily in the production of food and clothing. Early 19th century America saw a redefinition of the social and economic spheres of…

The conventional approach to analysis of employment problems in the modern sector, namely comparison of workforce supply and demand, is inapplicable in the traditional sector, where a distinction needs to be made between the concepts of workforce underutilization and its availability. The author discusses these concepts and presents their policy…

An analysis was done of recently released 1990 Census data on wage levels for full-time workers. The analysis found that the proportion of full-time, year-round workers who are paid low wages jumped between 1979 and 1990. In 1979, 12.1 percent of full-time, year-round workers were paid low wages, but 18 percent were paid low wages in 1990. Low…

Models of aggregate production are estimated and used to investigate the effects of changes in labor force composition on the recently observed decline in the earnings of college graduates relative to other workers and on the fall in the earnings of younger workers relative to older workers. (Author/SSH)

Presents an interview with Elaine Chao, United States Secretary of Labor, in which she suggests that, because of the information-based economy, education is a more vital element in the training of America's workforce than it has ever been. Discusses an initiative that will use high-tech tools to give Americans with disabilities greater access to…

A comprehensive life-cycle framework is offered for examining demographic changes and the world of work. This document establishes connections among the social and economic issues that relate to demographic change and priorities. The document also identifies the changes taking place in the work force, the problems of poor basic education and work…