Policy, Reseaech, andExternal Affairs iWORKING PAPERS Education andEmployment Population and Human Resources Department The WorldBank July 1991 WPS734 Curricular Content, EducationalExpansion, and EconomicGrowth Aaron Benavot Many academicians, politicians, and educators strongly believe that knowledge, organized in school curricula and transmitted through school systems, contributes to the economic strength of nations. How valid is this claim? The Policy, Rcsearch. and Extemal Affairs Complex distributes PRE Working Papers todisseminate the Findings of wor in progrcss and to encourage the exchange of ideas among Bank staff and aDl others interested in development issues. These papers carry the names qf the authors, reflect only their views, and should be used and cited accordingly. 1The findings, interpretations, and conclusions are the authors' own. They should not be attuibuted to the World Bank, its Board of Directors, its managemcnt, or any of its member countries. Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized