Skip to Main Content

Are Skills the Answer? The Political Economy of Skill Creation in Advanced Industrial Countries

Online ISBN:
9780191685040
Print ISBN:
9780198294382
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Book

Are Skills the Answer? The Political Economy of Skill Creation in Advanced Industrial Countries

Colin Crouch,
Colin Crouch

Professor of Sociology, European University Institute; and Fellow

Trinity College, Oxford
Find on
David Finegold,
David Finegold

Professor, School of Business Administration

University of Southern California, Los Angeles
Find on
Mari Sako
Mari Sako

Professor of International Business

Said Business School, University of Oxford
Find on
Published online:
3 October 2011
Published in print:
11 February 1999
Online ISBN:
9780191685040
Print ISBN:
9780198294382
Publisher:
Oxford University Press

Abstract

This study of the problems confronting institutions for the creation of occupational skills in seven advanced industrialised countries contributes to two different areas of debate. The first is the study of the diversity of institutional forms taken by modern capitalism, and the difficulties currently surrounding the survival of that diversity. Most discussions of this theme analyse economic institutions and governance in general. This book is more specific, focusing on the key area of skill creation. The second theme is that of vocational education and training in its own right. While sharing the consensus that the advanced countries must secure competitive advantage in a global economy by developing highly skilled work-forces, the book draws attention to certain awkward aspects of this approach that are often glossed over in general debate: the employment-generating power of improvements in skill levels is limited; employment policy cannot depend fully on education policies. While the acquisition of skills has become a major public need, there is increasing dependence for their provision on individual firms, which can have no responsibility for general needs, with government action being restricted to residual care for the unemployed rather than contributing at the leading edge of advanced skills policy.

Contents
Close
This Feature Is Available To Subscribers Only

Sign In or Create an Account

Close

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

View Article Abstract & Purchase Options

For full access to this pdf, sign in to an existing account, or purchase an annual subscription.

Close