This special issue was inspired by Greg Duncan and Saul Hoffman's 1981 article on the "incidence and wage effects of overeducation." These researchers used a Mincer earnings equation to determine that a substantial number of American workers were over- or under-educated for their chosen occupations. (MLH)

Investigates whether structural changes in the U.S. labor market affected the rewards and penalties associated with having too much or too little schooling for a job. Applies U.S. results to Germany's more structured ambience. In all cases, productivity and wages were affected by workers' education levels. (Contains 34 references.) (MLH)

Examines the conceptualization of gender redress within the policy development work on the National Qualification Framework (NQF) that is a key initiative of education reform in South Africa. Discusses the history of the NQF and addresses perspectives on gender and the integration of education and training from 1989 to 1996. (CMK)

Between 1984-1989, following establishment of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, a reform-oriented, noncollective professional project emerged that marooned 30 percent of the nursing work force in an obsolescent occupational group. UKCC eroded nursing's labor-market position with the National Health…

Discusses the development of teachers' unions as adversaries of school boards in the 1960s. Today there are signs that unions are moving from an industrial model of labor relations to a more professional union model, one in which union leaders and school leaders can become allies in the effort to improve schools. (SLD)

Shows how social policy based on children's needs for protection is not only due to the implied power relationship that it evokes but also because the policy has been historically driven by adult fears concerning minority group children that have resulted in displacement and incarceration of young people. Suggestions for more promising policy…

Describes provisions, implementation processes, and successes of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Welfare-to-Work grants to promote employment of the least employable welfare recipients, including many in rural poverty areas. Addresses other welfare modifications concerning legal immigrants, disabled children, food stamp recipients,…

Describes the role of South Dakota's governor in initiating technology plans for schools that would promote distance education. Discusses a conclave of leaders in technology and distance education that addressed the successful implementation of the Digital Dakota Network, a statewide intranet developed to help students, empower the workforce, and…

The growing importance of multiple-income strategies in the changing rural Appalachian economy is discussed via a case study of a network of female home-based machine-knitters. Social networks are an important part of the knitters' recruitment and training process, promote leadership development, and help overcome some of women's economic…

Applying a three-step methodology on a sample of Belgian college students, an econometric study discovered that students consider two dimensions of their prospective educational choice (economics and "a priori" chances of success) and that poorest students weigh the risk component heavily. Intervention would promote efficiency and…

Uses individual-level 1990 census data to estimate multinomial logit models (featuring county-level averages) of young men's and women's educational enrollment and employment behavior. Estimates indicate that high-school leavers are sensitive to earnings opportunities. For graduates, increases in current earnings modestly reduce enrollments and…

Presents an excerpt from the book, Help Wanted...Credentials Required: Community Colleges in the Knowledge Economy. States that credentials are now highly sought after by many employees, and community colleges must balance between providing a good education/training and the economic strain of doing so. Discusses changes in the trends of higher…

Offers a poststructuralist analysis of the UK higher education sector's academic division of labor, exploring some new contradictions from a contract researcher's standpoint. Raises political, social, and methodological questions about these divisions by exploring their class and gender dimensions. Too many academics remain silent about adverse…

Considers the benefits of employee retention and performance improvement in high technology, new economy companies. Discusses attracting and retaining top talent in information technology companies; targeted recruiting and hiring; employee achievement; learning and professional growth; recognition; nurturing careers; team collaboration; the TALENT…

Using responses from a national survey of chief academic officers in public community colleges, identifies previous position holders and the positions to which they moved. Presents findings, which indicated that the greatest percentage of former chief academic officers became president (30 percent), whereas the next largest percentage retired (27…