The Human Capital Stock: A Generalized Approach: Reply

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2019
Volume: 109
Issue: 3
Pages: 1175-95

Score contribution per author:

8.043 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

Human capital differences across countries can appear large or small depending on measurement methods. This Reply clarifies key assumptions and conceptual distinctions across accounting approaches. Accounting-based arguments for small human capital differences are difficult to sustain. By contrast, large human capital differences are theoretically and empirically coherent. Non-accounting arguments against large human capital variation are examined and their weaknesses pinpointed. This Reply also suggests a fruitful way forward for this literature, providing a natural conception of human capital that integrates literatures on ideas and institutions with the accounting of Jones (2014).

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:109:y:2019:i:3:p:1175-95
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25