komvux.1 From the autumn of 1993, the government supplied the municipali-
ties with extra funds earmarked for financing extra seats at komvux for the un-
employed. These represented around 20 per cent of the seats at komvux in 1994
and in 1996 around 30 per cent. From the autumn of 1997, when the Adult
Education Initiative (AEI, Kunskapslyftet) was introduced, government funding
became in excess of 50 per cent. The government funding of seats at komvux
was matched with a gradually enlarged access to study allowances for adults.
This was further enhanced with the AEI as individuals eligible for unemploy-
ment insurance (UI) were offered a year of full-time studies at komvux with fi-
nancial support equal to a maintained level of UI. At the time this represented
80 per cent of previous income and for the majority of the participants it meant
very generous economic conditions for continuing studies.
1 AE is in Sweden a concept that may also include Labour Market Training (arbetsmarknadsut-
bildning ), folk high-school (folkhogskola ) and, i.a., firm-sponsored training. This report only
considers studies within the framework of komvux.
IFAU - Does adult education at upper secondary level influence annual wage earnings?