期刊-NBER美国国民经济研究局-spring2007_44页_1mb

报告摘要

NBER Labor Economics Summary

Core Content

The NBER Labor Studies Program has grown significantly in scope and impact over the years, reflecting a broader and more diverse focus on labor-related issues. This evolution includes the integration of experimental economics, field experiments, and international comparisons, as well as a growing emphasis on the effect of institutions, technology, and trade on labor markets and inequality.

Main Points

Growth in Research Output: The number of NBER Working Papers in the Labor Studies Program has increased dramatically, from 10 in 1979 to 176 in 2006, and further to 18 in a single month in 2007.
Shift in Focus: The program has moved away from purely theoretical models of rational behavior to a more applied focus on how economic institutions and policies affect real-world outcomes, such as wages, employment, and inequality.
Global Perspective: Labor studies now include international data and case studies, moving from a U.S.-centric approach to a global comparative analysis.
Collaboration and Diversity: Research has become more collaborative, with multi-author papers and international researchers contributing to the field. This reflects the open source policy of the NBER and the increasing availability of global datasets.
Institutional Overlap: There is a substantial overlap between labor studies and public economics, as well as collaboration with specialists in other fields.

Key Research Topics

Student Aid and Educational Outcomes: Research focuses on how different forms of financial aid, such as need-based grants, merit scholarships, and tax incentives, affect college entry, completion, and distributional outcomes.
Inequality and Incentives: The economics of inequality is a central theme, with studies examining how institutions, technology, and trade contribute to wage and earnings inequality.
Labor Market Effects of Policy Changes: Analysis of how changes in policy, such as the elimination of the Social Security student benefit program, impact college attendance and educational attainment.
Gender and Racial Disparities: Studies highlight the gender and racial gaps in educational and labor market outcomes, and how aid programs can either amplify or reduce these disparities.
Experimental Methods: The use of laboratory and field experiments has become a key tool in labor economics, helping to assess behavioral responses to incentives and policy effectiveness.

Research Summaries

The Economics of Student Aid

Susan M. Dynarski explores the incentive and distributional effects of government education policies, particularly student aid programs. Her work examines:

The impact of grant aid on college entry and attendance.
The effectiveness of merit aid in reducing racial gaps.
The gender differences in eligibility and outcomes.
The tax advantages and risks of college savings accounts.
The complexity of aid programs and its barriers to access for low-income families.

Key Findings

Need-based aid may be less effective for low-income students due to high transaction costs and complexity.
The elimination of the Social Security student benefit program had a significant negative impact on college attendance, especially among low-income students.
Merit aid can have positive effects on college attendance, but disproportionate effects on racial groups may exacerbate inequality.
College completion rates are influenced by costs and aid, with scholarship programs showing positive impacts on degree attainment.
Tax incentives for college savings are more beneficial for high-income families, due to poor coordination with the federal aid system and high tax rates for those on the margin of aid eligibility.

Conclusion

The NBER Labor Studies Program has evolved into a leading force in economic research, incorporating a broader range of topics, experimental methods, and international data. The research underscores the complexity of aid policy, the role of institutions and incentives, and the importance of empirical analysis in understanding labor market dynamics and inequality. As the field continues to expand, it is expected to provide greater insights into global labor markets, gender and racial disparities, and the impact of incentives on creativity and innovation.