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Not the Best Fillers in of Forms? The Danish and Norwegian Graduate Biographies and “Upper Tail Knowledge”

Author

Listed:
  • Nicholas Martin Ford

    (Lund University)

  • Kristin Ranestad

    (University of Oslo)

  • Paul Sharp

    (University of Southern Denmark, CAGE, CEPR)

Abstract

“Upper tail knowledge”, embodied by knowledge elites, has been suggested to be a driving force of industrialization and development, yet measuring it remains problematic. Despite some recent innovations, much empirical work continues to rely on measures of “average” or “non-upper tail” human capital such as literacy and years of schooling. We thus turn to per- haps unique sources from Denmark and Norway. From the early nineteenth century until after the Second World War, these countries had the tradition of publishing biographies of all high school graduates, usually 25 and 50 years after graduation. These were effectively mini-CVs covering entire careers, including work positions, travel, achievements, and more. We discuss these sources and their potential for furthering our understanding of the role of upper tail knowledge and human capital for development. Source criticism reveals strengths and weak- nesses, but importantly confirms promising perspectives for improving the measurement of upper tail knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicholas Martin Ford & Kristin Ranestad & Paul Sharp, 2023. "Not the Best Fillers in of Forms? The Danish and Norwegian Graduate Biographies and “Upper Tail Knowledge”," Working Papers 0242, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    • Handle: RePEc:hes:wpaper:0242
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    File URL: https://www.ehes.org/wp/EHES_242.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Biographies; Denmark; Norway; human capital; source criticism; upper tail knowledge;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N34 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: 1913-

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