The case against education : why the education system is a waste of time and money / Bryan Caplan.
2018
KF4119 .C37 2018 (Mapit)
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Title
The case against education : why the education system is a waste of time and money / Bryan Caplan.
Imprint
Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press, [2018]
Description
xiv, 395 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
Formatted Contents Note
Introduction
The magic of education
The puzzle is real : the ubiquity of useless education
The puzzle is real : the handsome rewards of useless education
The signs of signaling : in case you're still not convinced
Who cares if it's signaling? : the selfish return to education
We care if it's signaling : the social return to education
The white elephant in the room : we need lots less education
1 > 0 : we need more vocational education
Nourishing mother : is education good for the soul?
Five chats on education and enlightenment
Conclusion.
The magic of education
The puzzle is real : the ubiquity of useless education
The puzzle is real : the handsome rewards of useless education
The signs of signaling : in case you're still not convinced
Who cares if it's signaling? : the selfish return to education
We care if it's signaling : the social return to education
The white elephant in the room : we need lots less education
1 > 0 : we need more vocational education
Nourishing mother : is education good for the soul?
Five chats on education and enlightenment
Conclusion.
Summary
Despite being immensely popular--and immensely lucrative education is grossly overrated. In this explosive book, Bryan Caplan argues that the primary function of education is not to enhance students' skill but to certify their intelligence, work ethic, and conformity - in other words, to signal the qualities of a good employee. Learn why students hunt for easy As and casually forget most of what they learn after the final exam, why decades of growing access to education have not resulted in better jobs for the average worker but instead in runaway credential inflation, how employers reward workers for costly schooling they rarely if ever use, and why cutting education spending is the best remedy. Caplan draws on the latest social science to show how the labor market values grades over knoweldge, and why the more education your rivals have, the more you need to impress employers. He explains why graduation is our society's top conformity signal, and why even the most useless degrees can certify employability. He advocates two major policy responses. The first is educational austerity. Goverment needs to sharply cut education funding to curb this wasteful rat race. The second is more vocational education, because practical skills are more socially valuable than teaching students how to outshine their peers. Romantic notions about education being "good for the soul" must yield to careful research and common sense - The Case against Education points the way. -- from dust jacket.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 295-380) and index.
Location
STA
Call Number
KF4119 .C37 2018
Language
English
ISBN
9780691174655 hardcover acid-free paper
0691174652 hardcover acid-free paper
0691174652 hardcover acid-free paper
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