Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/115881 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
ZEW Discussion Papers No. 15-057
Publisher: 
Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung (ZEW), Mannheim
Abstract: 
This paper addresses the puzzle how employers that invest in general human capital can gain an information advantage with respect to the ability of their employees when training is certified by credible external institutions. We apply an established model from the employer-learning literature and distinguish between two ability dimensions: cognitive and work-related ability. We apply this model to the German apprenticeship system and show that cognitive ability certified by external institutions at that the end of apprenticeship training can be signalled to outside employers. Apprenticeship graduates however cannot signal their work-related ability - measured by a small voluntary bonus paid by the training employer - to the outside market. We therefore show that the information advantage on work-related ability explains that training employers can positively select the apprentices they retain. As a consequence, this information advantage induces employers to invest in certified and transferable human capital.
Subjects: 
training
employer learning
employer change
adverse selection
asymmetric information
JEL: 
J24
J31
J62
J63
M52
M53
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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