Inequality in America: What Role for Human Capital Policies?

HECKMAN, James J. and Alan Krueger.

$475.00

Item Number: 138139

Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2004.

First edition, early printing of this work by the Nobel Prize-winning economist. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To John Rogers with respect Jim Heckman 9/18/15.” Fine in a fine dust jacket.

The surge of inequality in income and wealth in the United States over the past twenty-five years has reversed the steady progress toward greater equality that had been underway throughout most of the twentieth century. This economic development has defied historical patterns and surprised many economists, producing vigorous debate. Inequality in America: What Role for Human Capital Policies? examines the ways in which human capital policies can address this important problem. Taking it as a given that potentially low-income workers would benefit from more human capital in the form of market skills and education, James Heckman and Alan Krueger discuss which policies would be most effective in providing it: should we devote more resources to the entire public school system, or to specialized programs like Head Start? Would relaxing credit restraints encourage more students to attend college? Does vocational training actually work? What is the best balance of private and public sector programs?The book preserves the character of the symposium at which the papers were originally presented, recreating its atmosphere of lively debate.