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The ‘new firm paradigm’ and the provision of training: The impact of ICT, workplace organization and human capital

Summary

The paper analyzes the relevance of the three constituent elements of the ‘new firm paradigm’, i.e. ICT, workplace organization and human capital, as determinants of a firm’s provision of training. We concentrate on apprenticeship training, which in German-speaking countries is a widespread practice of skill formation. Econometric studies dealing with a firm’s provision of apprenticeships so far did not pay much attention to the influence of a shift towards the new paradigm. We find that apprenticeship training is an appropriate way of skill formation in advanced economies, but this may not be the case in leading-edge segments of the economy.

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This study was funded by the Swiss Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OPET) through its Leading House on the Economics of Education, Firm Behaviour and Training Policies. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the OPET or the Leading House. Any remaining errors are the responsibility of the authors. The authors gratefully acknowledge the useful comments and suggestions of Uschi Backes-Gellner, Stefan Wolter and the members of the Advisory Board. Moreover, we thank Spyros Arvanitis, Peter Egger and Ulrich Kaiser for helpful comments and suggestions.

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Hollenstein, H., Stucki, T. The ‘new firm paradigm’ and the provision of training: The impact of ICT, workplace organization and human capital. Swiss J Economics Statistics 148, 557–595 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03399378

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