The Human Capital Effects of Access to Elite Jobs

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Xu, Huayu; Adhvaryu, Achyuta
• 署名单位: Peking University; Peking University; University of California System; University of California San Diego
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.20220340
• 发表日期: 2024
• 页码: 516-548
• 关键词: financial incentives; bureaucracy; education; INFORMATION; RECRUITMENT; performance; IMPACT; GROWTH; women

摘要

We study the human capital effects of access to elite bureaucratic jobs in Taiwan , where performance on an examination determines entry into the civil service. Historically , quotas for successful applicants were set based on the 1948 populations of individuals' native provinces in mainland China. This resulted in a higher probability of success on the exam-and , thus , greater access to elite positions-for descendants of certain migrant groups. These preferential quotas were replaced in 1962 with a uniform admissions policy. Using this variation , we find that the incentives created by preferential quotas increased human capital and improved long -run economic outcomes.