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Skills and Competitiveness: Can Pakistan Break Out of the Low-Level Skills Trap?

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  • Rashid Amjad

    (Policy, Planning, Employment Sector, International Labour Organization, Geneva)

Abstract

The paper argues that if Pakistan is to survive and prosper under the competitive conditions of the new global economy, then it must move away from its overwhelming dependence on “cottonomics” into more technology- and knowledge-based productswhere global growth is concentrated. For this to happen, it must break out of the “lowlevel skills trap”, which is the result of the very low levels of education and skills of its work force. It then poses the question whether the development of a well-educated and skilled labour force is sufficient for the country to graduate from labour-intensive to higher value-added, skill-intensive, technologically advanced sectors. The paper argues that while this is essential, the real challenge is to change the mind-set and develop institutions which recognise the value of investing in people and provide dignity, respect, and a fair deal for working men and women.

Suggested Citation

  • Rashid Amjad, 2005. "Skills and Competitiveness: Can Pakistan Break Out of the Low-Level Skills Trap?," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 44(4), pages 387-409.
    • Handle: RePEc:pid:journl:v:44:y:2005:i:4:p:387-409
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    File URL: http://www.pide.org.pk/pdf/PDR/2005/Volume4/387-409.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lucas, Robert E, Jr, 1993. "Making a Miracle," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 61(2), pages 251-272, March.
    2. Azizur Rahman Khan, 1967. "What Has Been Happening to Real Wages in Pakistan," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 7(3), pages 317-347.
    3. Amjad,Rashid, 2008. "Private Industrial Investment in Pakistan," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521053617, January.
    4. Romer, Paul M, 1990. "Endogenous Technological Change," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(5), pages 71-102, October.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Rashid Amjad, 2006. "Why Pakistan Must Break-into the Knowledge Economy," Lahore Journal of Economics, Department of Economics, The Lahore School of Economics, vol. 11(Special E), pages 75-87, September.
    2. Uzma Zia, 2007. "International Competitiveness  Where Pakistan Stands?," Development Economics Working Papers 22222, East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.
    3. Matthew McCartney, 2014. "The Political Economy of Industrial Policy: A Comparative Study of the Textiles Industry in Pakistan," Lahore Journal of Economics, Department of Economics, The Lahore School of Economics, vol. 19(Special E), pages 105-134, September.
    4. Makino, Momoe, 2012. "What motivates female operators to enter the garment industry in Pakistan in the post-MFA period?," IDE Discussion Papers 374, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    5. Shaukat Hameed Khan, 2009. "Making People Employable: Reforming Secondary Education in Pakistan," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 48(4), pages 603-617.
    6. A. R. Kemal, 2005. "Skill Development in Pakistan," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 44(4), pages 349-357.
    7. Matthew McCartney, 2012. "Competitiveness and Pakistan: A Dangerous, Distorting, and Dead-End Obsession?," Lahore Journal of Economics, Department of Economics, The Lahore School of Economics, vol. 17(Special E), pages 213-241, September.
    8. Muhammad Azhar Khalil* & Rashid Khalil & Iqra Arshad & Muhammad Khuram Khalild, 2018. "Global Trade and Technology as Indicators of Competitiveness and Economic Development: A Study of Pakistan’s Position in International Market," The Journal of Social Sciences Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, pages 498-504:2.
    9. Matthew McCartney, 2016. "Costs, Capabilities, Conflict and Cash: The Problem of Technology and Sustainable Economic Growth in Pakistan," Lahore Journal of Economics, Department of Economics, The Lahore School of Economics, vol. 21(Special E), pages 65-98, September.
    10. Muhammad Jamil & Ahmed Imran Hunjra & Babar Khalid, 2014. "Important Factors of Human Resource Development in Pakistan," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 3(1), pages 1-12, March.
    11. Muhammad Khan & Fozia Aftab Kiani & Afsheen Ashraf & M. Iftikhar-Ul- Husnain, 2009. "Skills, Competitiveness and Productivity," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 48(4), pages 473-486.
    12. Asghar Ali & Iqbal Ahmad & M. Anees-ul-Husnain Shah, 2017. "Exploring Factors Influencing Employability ofVocational Training Graduates in Pakistan:A Factor Analysis," Global Regional Review, Humanity Only, vol. 2(1), pages 389-404, June.
    13. Ahad Hassan Afridi, 2016. "Human Capital and Economic Growth of Pakistan," Business & Economic Review, Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan, vol. 8(1), pages 77-86, April.
    14. Hina Amir & Muhammad Khan & Kanwal Bilal, 2014. "Role of Educated Labor Force in Economic Growth of Pakistan: A Human Capital Respective," International Journal of Empirical Finance, Research Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 3(4), pages 212-224.
    15. Naila Bano & Siliu Yang & Easar Alam, 2022. "Emerging Challenges in Technical Vocational Education and Training of Pakistan in the Context of CPEC," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-16, June.
    16. Muhammad Kashif & Umair Altaf & Hafiz M. Ayub & Umer Asif & John C. Walsh, 2014. "Customer Satisfaction at Public Hospitals in Pakistan: PAKSERV Application," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 15(4), pages 677-693, December.

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