The Making of a Manager: Evidence from Military Officer Training

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Labor Economics
Year: 2016
Volume: 34
Issue: 4
Pages: 869 - 898

Authors (2)

Erik Grönqvist (not in RePEc) Erik Lindqvist (Stockholms Universitet)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We show that officer training during the Swedish military service has a strong positive effect on the probability of attaining a managerial position later in life. The most intense type of officer training increases the probability of becoming a civilian manager by about 5 percentage points, or 75%. Officer training also increases educational attainment post–military service. We argue that the effect on civilian leadership could be due to the acquisition of leadership-specific skills during the military service, and we present suggestive evidence related to alternative mechanisms, such as signaling, networks, and training unrelated to leadership.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/686255
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25