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Skills and training in hierarchical capitalism: the rise and fall of vocational training in South Korea

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  • Fleckenstein, Timo
  • Lee, Soohyun Christine
  • Park, Jae Hyoung

Abstract

From an economic model in which education and growth reinforced each other, South Korea has developed a pathological equilibrium holding back economic and social progress. Low labour productivity and skills mismatch undermine the economic prospects of the country, and sharp rises in inequality in an ever more dualised labour market erode social cohesion. Governments of different political persuasion have recognised these challenges, and they have thought to reinvigorate vocational education and training (VET). However, this article shows that large employers – which were at the heart of a segmentalist coalition between business and government when collective skills formation of the Developmental State was dismantled – continue to undermine any efforts of meaningful vocational skills formation. It is argued that the country’s hierarchical production regime and, related to this, labour market dualisation provide the micro-foundations for successive failure in VET reform; and without challenging large employers’ dominant position in the Korean political economy and without addressing labour market dualism, the reform of VET policy can be expected to remain a futile endeavour.

Suggested Citation

  • Fleckenstein, Timo & Lee, Soohyun Christine & Park, Jae Hyoung, 2023. "Skills and training in hierarchical capitalism: the rise and fall of vocational training in South Korea," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 124872, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
  • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:124872
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/124872/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General

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