Examines the efficacy of vocational education in raising the wage levels of four disadvantaged groups in Israel: recent immigrants, Jews of Eastern origin, Israeli Arabs, and females. Results are mixed, differing from group to group, thus justifying the approach of examining the impact of vocational schooling on finer breakdowns of the population…

Analyzes a student-loans scheme in Thailand to increase access of poor students, for example, to upper-secondary and postsecondary education. Finds average repayment ratio of loans is 10 percent or less. Recommends conversion of upper-secondary loans to grants and reforms in postsecondary loan procedures to improve repayment and recovery ratios.…

The earnings of former trainees for the skilled trades in Israel were monitored over a seven-year period. While no significant differences were found between graduates of one-year adult training courses and similar programs for teenagers, postponement of training until the 20's is not a paying proposition. Contains one figure, two tables, and 15…

Although in most developing countries, major vocational training programs are financed from general government revenues, earmarked payroll taxes are becoming increasingly popular. This paper summarizes international experience with these payroll taxes, distinguishing between the more traditional revenue-raising schemes of the Latin American model…

Recent studies have explored whether employers use educational qualifications as screening device, rather than as measure of acquired human capital. One method for testing a strong version of the screening hypothesis was suggested by Psacharopoulos and applied to British data, with negative conclusions. This paper applies the same "P" test to…

Using census data relating to secondary school completers in Israel, alternative explanations are examined for the well-documented positive relation between education and earnings. Results suggest that educational certification may exert an independent, positive influence on earnings over and above the investment effect of human capital. Includes…