At a Crossroads

At a Crossroads
Author: María Marta Ferreyra
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 387
Release: 2017-05-18
Genre: Education
ISBN: 146481015X

"Higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean has expanded dramatically in the past 15 years, as the average gross enrollment rate has more than doubled, and many new institutions and programs have been opened. Although higher education access has become more equitable, and higher education supply has become more varied, many of the 'new' students in the system are, on average, less academically ready than are their more advantaged counterparts. Furthermore, only half of higher education students, on average, complete their degree, and labor market returns to higher education vary greatly across institutions and programs. Thus, higher education is at a crossroads today. Given the region's urgency to raise productivity in a low-growth, fiscally constrained environment, going past this crossroads requires the formation of skilled human capital fast and efficiently. 'At a Crossroads: Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean' contributes to the discussion by studying quality, variety, and equity of higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean. The book presents comprehensive evidence on the recent higher education expansion and evolution of higher education labor market returns. Using novel data and state-of-the-art methods, it studies demand and supply drivers of the recent expansion. It investigates the behavior of institutions and students and explores the unintended consequences of large-scale higher education policies. Framing the analysis are the singular characteristics of the higher education market and the market segmentation induced by the variety of students and institutions in the system. At this crossroads, a role emerges for incentives, information, accountability, and choice."

Closing the Gap in Education and Technology

Closing the Gap in Education and Technology
Author: David M. De Ferranti
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 234
Release: 2003
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780821351727

The fundamental elements to unlocking the potential of technology to speed up economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are investing in education, opening up new technologies through foreign trade and investment, and encouraging private sector research and development. 'Closing the Gap in Education and Technology' advises Latin American and Caribbean governments to address the region's deficits in skills and technology, and thereby boost productivity, ultimately improving growth prospects. To close this 'productivity gap' in the region, the report calls for a range of policy approaches and strategies, depending on a country's level of development. It identifies three progressive stages in a country's technological evolution -- adoption, adaptation, and creation -- and observes that policies should be designed to address the particular challenges that accompany each stage.In conclusion, 'Closing the Gap in Education and Technology' argues that many countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region have been improving education and social risk management systems so that they are now ready to benefit from the rewards associated with creating stronger trade and technology ties with countries that are more technologically advanced.

Firm Innovation and Productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean

Firm Innovation and Productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean
Author: Inter-American Development Bank
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 366
Release: 2016-07-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1349581518

This volume uses the study of firm dynamics to investigate the factors preventing faster productivity growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, pushing past the limits of traditional macroeconomic analyses. Each chapter is dedicated to an examination of a different factor affecting firm productivity - innovation, ICT usage, on-the-job-training, firm age, access to credit, and international linkages - highlighting the differences in firm characteristics, behaviors, and strategies. By showcasing this remarkable heterogeneity, this collection challenges regional policymakers to look beyond one-size-fits-all solutions and create balanced policy mixes tailored to distinct firm needs. This book is open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO license.

World Bank Investment in Vocational Education and Training

World Bank Investment in Vocational Education and Training
Author: John Middleton
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 165
Release: 1989
Genre: Economic assistance
ISBN:

The challenge facing future World Bank investment in vocational education and training is to bring past successes in middle-income countries to the lower income countries. Strategies naturally will have to vary greatly from country to country.

Latin American Economic Outlook 2017 Youth, Skills and Entrepreneurship

Latin American Economic Outlook 2017 Youth, Skills and Entrepreneurship
Author: OECD
Publisher: OECD Publishing
Total Pages: 313
Release: 2016-10-29
Genre:
ISBN: 9264265007

The 2017 edition of the Latin American Economic Outlook explores youth, skills and entrepreneurship. Young Latin Americans embody the region’s promise and perils. They stand at the crossroads of a region whose once promising economy and social progress is now undergoing a slowdown.

Meeting the Challenges of Secondary Education in Latin America and East Asia

Meeting the Challenges of Secondary Education in Latin America and East Asia
Author: Emanuela Di Gropello
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 376
Release: 2006-01-01
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0821366467

In a context of increased primary school enrollment rates, secondary education is appearing as the next big challenge for Latin American and East Asian countries. This report seeks to undertake a detailed diagnostic of secondary education in these two regions, understand some of the main constraints to the expansion and improvement of secondary education, and suggest policy options to address these constraints, with focus on policies that improve the mobilization and use of resources.