Optimal Education Policies and Comparative Advantage
31 Pages Posted: 29 Apr 2009
There are 2 versions of this paper
Optimal Education Policies and Comparative Advantage
Optimal Education Policies and Comparative Advantage
Date Written: April 2009
Abstract
We consider the optimal education policies of a small economy whose government has a limited budget. Initially, the economy is closed and the government chooses its education policy to maximize welfare under autarky. Then the economy trades with the rest of the world. Lastly, the government chooses a new education policy that maximizes welfare under trade. Is it ever optimal for the government to choose its new policy so that it reverses the economy’s comparative advantage? We find that if the budget stays fixed when it is optimal to "move up the skills chain" it is not feasible. In such a case a foreign loan is welfare improving. A move in the opposite direction can be optimal and when it is optimal it is also feasible.
Keywords: patterns of trade, education policy, welfare
JEL Classification: F11, O15
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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