Investments in education and welfare in a two-sector, random matching economy

TitleInvestments in education and welfare in a two-sector, random matching economy
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsMendolicchio, C, Paolini, D, Pietra, T
JournalJournal of Mathematical Economics
Volume48
Issue6
Pagination367–385
Abstract

We consider a random matching model where heterogeneous agents choose optimally to invest time and real resources in education. Generically, there is a steady state equilibrium where some agents, but not all of them, invest. Regular steady state equilibria are constrained inefficient in a strong sense. The Hosios (1990) condition is neither necessary nor sufficient for constrained efficiency. We also provide restrictions on the fundamentals sufficient to guarantee that equilibria are characterized by overeducation (or undereducation), present some results on their comparative statics properties, and discuss the nature of welfare improving policies.

URLhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304406812000559
DOI10.1016/j.jmateco.2012.08.002
Keywordsefficiency, human capital, random matching