Investments in Higher Education and the Economic Performance of OECD Member Countries

Universities and academic research institutions play an important role in contributing to the economic growth of countries, mainly through the diffusion of scientific knowledge, new methods, and technologies. This study investigates the relationship between investments in higher education and the economic performance of developed countries. Cross-sectional data, relating to higher education, workforce composition, and macro-economic indicators, were analyzed. The empirical analysis was based on data gathered from international datasets: World Development Indicators (WDI) of the World Bank, OECD Statistics Portal, and UNSECO for the 30 OECD member states. The main research hypothesis was that a positive and significant linkage exists between investment in higher education and economic growth. The examination was carried out by employing two models. The first model (a two-stage model) assumed that an indirect link existed between higher education and economic growth. The instrumental indicator used in the analysis was the country’s labor force composition (specifically, the percentage of employees in scientific and engineering fields). The second model employed a multivariate regression model to directly test the relationship between higher education and growth indicators. The research findings show that higher education inputs translate into human capital outputs (a trained workforce in the computing, science, and engineering fields), and these transform back into the inputs that explain the economic performance of OECD countries. Smaller European countries, such as Finland, the Netherlands, and Denmark, are more efficient in translating their educational investments into a high-quality labor force. The two main activities of universities - teaching and research - were found to be connected to enhancing the per capita GDP of OECD countries. The research findings also support evidence from other studies that show decreasing returns to scale in education. The elasticity of per capita GDP with respect to R&D expenditure per student and the expenditure on teaching in research universities were found to be fairly large, with a constant elasticity of 0.78% and point elasticities (when expenditure on teaching is held constant) ranging from 0.04% (Turkey) to 0.84% (Sweden). Point elasticities for the majority of OECD countries were found to be at the 0.2%-0.5% level.

Welfare economic impacts of transportation improvements in a peripheral region

We set out to investigate whether transportation improvements can trigger welfare economic impacts in a peripheral region. The paper addresses this issue through the development of a general equilibrium labor market model with a transportation component. The model is implemented to a set of 101 core and peripheral cities in Israel. Numeric simulations are carried out to test the research hypotheses regarding positive relationship between improved accessibility and enhanced economic welfare. Economic welfare is measured in terms of efficiency and equity impacts. The results of the simulations show that transportation improvements in the form of auto travel time reductions may lead to substantial welfare benefits in the peripheral region considered in terms of increased output, productivity and wages

The Impact of Urban Form on Travel Behavior: A Meta-Analysis

A common viewpoint held by many New-Urbanist and Neo-Traditional plan- ners is that characteristics of the built environment, such as population density, mixed land use settings and street configuration, exert a strong influence on travel behavior. The empirical evidence for this relation, however, as portrayed in many primary studies, is somewhat mixed. This paper offers an application of statistical meta-analysis in an attempt to settle the contradictory findings reported in the single studies. The findings reaffirm the role of residential density as the most important built environment element influencing travel choice. The findings also reinforce the land use mixing component of the built environment as being a strong predictor of travel behavior. The findings do not, however, support the most controversial claim of the New Urbanism regarding the role of street pattern configuration in influencing travel behavior

Spatial aspects of education–job matching in Israel

<p>Spatial aspects of education–job matching in Israel. <i>Regional Studies</i>. This paper investigates the role of personal attributes and spatial characteristics in education–job matching in Israel. Logistic regression models are used to predict the impact of various explanatory variables on the probability of attaining an education–job match. Graduates who studied in universities and colleges in the core were more likely to attain a good education–job match, especially in high-technology jobs and in financial and executive occupations, than graduates who studied in higher-education institutions located on the periphery. The structure of the regional economy was found to play a significant role in education–job attainment.</p

Equity Impacts of Transportation Improvements On Core and Peripheral Cities

The aim of this paper is to assess the short-term impact of transportation improvements on the reduction of socioeconomic disparities between core and peripheral cities. Data used in the analysis was extracted from the 1995 Israel Census. The methodology applied in the study was to estimate discrete choice models in an attempt to identify key variables affecting commuting decisions. Policy simulations are employed to illustrate the effect of diminishing spatial friction on wage convergence between poor southern towns and affluent core cities. The empirical evidence suggests that transportation improvements, especially in the form of introducing new rail links in underserved cities, could significantly contribute to the alleviation of spatial wage disparities between core and peripheral cities

Equity Impacts of Transportation Improvements On Core and Peripheral Cities

The aim of this paper is to assess the short-term impact of transportation improvements on the reduction of socio-economic disparities between core and peripheral cities. Data used in the analysis was extracted from the 1995 Israel Census. The methodology applied in the study was to estimate discrete choice models in an attempt to identify key variables affecting commuting decisions. Policy simulations are employed to illustrate the effect of diminishing spatial friction on wage convergence between poor southern towns and affluent core cities. The empirical evidence suggests that transportation improvements, especially in the form of introducing new rail links in underserved cities, could significantly contribute to the alleviation of spatial wage disparities between core and peripheral cities.transportation improvements; economic equity; wage disparities; discrete choice