Volume 2, Number 2 (Spring) 1967
Hansen, W. Lee. 1967. "The Economics of Scientific and Engineering Manpower." Journal of Human Resources 2(2):191-220.
Questions about the "adequacy" of both the quantity and quality of scientific and engineering manpower to meet private and social needs have remained at the forefront of manpower discussions for almost two decades. Mr. Hansen's paper attempts to define some of the issues in the discussion of "shortages" by surveying the various positions taken, alternative approaches to research in the field, and the analytical efforts of economists. It then explores in more detail the projection approach and subsequently proposes the rate-of-return approach to provide new insights into these issues. Finally, the paper questions the reasons for the great concern about scientific and engineering manpower and the direction of what little research there has been in this field.
Mr. Moser comments on the contrasts between the American and European scenes and the role of the rate-of-return approach for estimating future as well as current needs. Mr. Brown remarks on the difficulties of taking into account a number of noneconomic factors in labor market behavior and questions whether it is easier to determine future demand, future wage rates, or future supply.
Mr. Hansen is Professor of Economics and Educational Policy Studies at The University of Wisconsin. Mr. Moser is at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Mr. Brown is with the Office of the President at the University of Minnesota. The valuable assistance of Mr. Howard Tuckman is gratefully acknowledged. Financial support for this study was provided by the Commission on Human Resources and Advanced Education.
© 2003 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
US ISSN 0022-166X