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How do people trade off resources between quick and slow learners?

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  • Falch, Ranveig

Abstract

How society invests in human capital is important for economic growth and social welfare. The paper reports from a novel, large-scale experiment with 2,000 Americans, where people choose how to allocate resources between quick and slow learners. The paper finds that people give strong priority to strengthening the human capital of slow learners, and give evidence on the extent to which cost efficiency and the motivation of the learners shape the resource allocation. The findings provide important insights for the present debate on how society should prioritize in educational policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Falch, Ranveig, 2022. "How do people trade off resources between quick and slow learners?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:150:y:2022:i:c:s0014292122001738
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2022.104285
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Human capital investment; Preferences; Inequality; Experiment; Education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D30 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - General
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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