Economics of Education
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this graduate-level course examining education through the lens of economic theory and empirical research. Lectures and readings cover human capital theory, the rising impact of education on earnings and wage inequality, and the statistical challenges of estimating the true return to schooling. The syllabus also takes up the labor market for teachers, how computerization has shifted demand for worker skills, and whether mid-career training programs actually help adult workers. Policy debates get equal weight: school choice, charter schools, state academic standards, educational technology, and college financial aid all appear as case studies where theory meets institutional detail. Materials include the course readings list and assignments as posted by MIT, with no cost to access; there is no certificate since this is an OpenCourseWare archive rather than an instructor-led offering.