erc/metu
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN ECONOMICS  IV
September 13-16, 2000, Ankara

Higher Education and Economic Development: A Quantitative Historical Perspective

Jean-Luc De Meulemeester (Free University of Brussels, Belgium)
Denis Rochat (CREBM Brussels and Universite de Cergy-Pontoise, Belgium)

Abstract  

This research aims at identifying various ways through which higher education might affect (or be affected by) economic variables, (such as the level of economic development or stock of physical capital) by applying econometric tools (cointegration and Granger causality tests) on long-run time series. Three countries are investigated: Australia (1906-1986), United Kingdom (1919-1987) and Sweden (1910-1986) and the statistical evidence is confronted with material coming from more traditional economic history. The results show the importance of both economic and technological level of development, as well as of institutional framework and exogenous factors. They highlight the complex relation which links together the educational system and the economy at large along this century.

Economic Research Center
Middle East Technical University
06531 Ankara Turkey
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e-mail: metuerc@metu.edu.tr