La formation sur le tas par diffusion du savoir : estimations sur données marocaines, mauriciennes et tunisiennes

This study tests a model (Lévy-Garboua, 1994) which improves significantly the understanding of learning effects within the firm on three samples of employees issued from Moroccan, Mauritian and Tunisian companies. On-the-job training is explained by a "learning by watching" process, identified as one the major component of informal apprenticeship. The model of diffusion of knowledge suggests knowledge diffusion rates in the firms and their training potential relative to the knowledge of new entrants. The estimations also highlight external effects of human capital on wages (mean variables of education and on-the-job experience, gaps of education and experience). The results sum up quite well the idea of a compartmentalized firm where employees could poorly benefit from particular exchanges of know-how: Moroccan companies seem to have chosen employment of young skilled workers rather than establishing an organization of the work set-up which could stimulate the diffusion of knowledge. On the contrary, Mauritian firms appear to favor on-the-job training which seems achieved essentially by informal diffusion of knowledge between workers. The Tunisian case is consistent with a positive externality of skilled workers on unskilled workers stimulating diffusion of knowledge effects within the firm.