This dissertation consists of three essays in labor and development economics. The first essay, “Bumpy Rides: School to Work Transitions in South Africa,” quantifies the importance of the option to re-enroll in the school to work transition of South African youth. I estimate a structural...

In form of a qualitative single case study this thesis examines what people from industrialized countries such as Germany can learn about sustainability from Lynedoch EcoVillage, South Africa, and the associated 'Sustainability Institute', a non-profit trust based at and operating from Lynedoch...

Government accepts responsibility for stimulating and supporting research and development for the welfare of the entire community. Research is therefore a matter of serious concern which should be approached with the greatest degree of responsibility by those trained and qualified to engage in...

Diese Dissertation befasst sich mit Arbeitsmarkterfolg und Konsum sozioökonomischer Gruppen. Die ersten zwei Kapitel untersuchen konjunkturelle Auswirkungen auf Arbeitsmärkten für Hoch- und Niedrigqualifizierte. Zunächst wird ein qualifikationsspezifisches Konjunkturmodell mit Suchkosten...

This paper reassesses the debate over the role of education in farm production in Bangladesh using a large dataset on rice producing households from 141 villages. Average and stochastic production frontier functions are estimated to ascertain the effect of education on productivity and...

This paper reassesses the debate over the role of education in farm pro duction in Bangladesh using a large dataset on rice producing hous eholds from 141 villages. Average and stochastic production frontier functions are estimated to ascertain the effect of education on productivity and...

In this paper we focus on education as a private decision to invest in ‘human capital’ and the estimation of the rate of return to that private investment. While the literature is replete with studies that estimate the rate of return using regression methods where the estimated return is...

Wage and income surveys covering the period 1989-1999 are used to display changes in inequality of earnings and main factors of disparities. In the first part, increasing differences in the Czech Republic and the decreasing weight of demographic characteristics in wage structure are observed. In...

This paper examines the changes in relative earnings of workers with different education levels during Vietnam’s transition. It is found that females enjoy a higher return to education than males do in 1998, reversing the situation observed five years ago. A large fall in the returns to...

To what extent is the performance of a small business venture, once started, affected by capital constraints at the time of inception and by the business founder's investment in human capital? We attempt to answer this question taking into account the potential endogeneity of human and financial...