That depends. Czerny did exactly that. His studies were meant to prepare the pianist for all the obstacles you would encounter in Beethoven's Sonatas. Liszt's studies (the Op. 1, not the TEs, etc.), were meant as smaller studies to prepare the pianist to attempt his Transcendental Etudes.
I think the only "studies" that I would ever recommend to anybody would be Burgmuller's Op. 100. Bach's Inventions and Sinfonias are meant as studies, not only in the technical aspect, but also through a compositional/musical facet. They are wonderful pieces of music that present the earlier pianist with certain obstacles. The best part about it... the Op. 100 and the Inventions/Sinfonias are actual pieces of music.