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The efficiency of schools in developing countries, analysed through PISA 2012 data

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  • Agasisti, Tommaso
  • Zoido, Pablo

Abstract

This paper analyses the efficiency of more than 6800 schools in 28 developing countries, by means of a two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis and using data from OECD PISA 2012. The results reveal that the average efficiency of schools is around 70%, meaning that achievement scores can be raised by 30% by employing a more effective use of available resources. Substantial heterogeneity exists both between and within countries; in general, efficiency scores are higher when comparing schools only with those in the same country. Among factors associated with schools' efficiency, the most important are the characteristics of student population (for instance, motivation, truancy, etc.). Therefore, some practices related to accountability, teachers’ involvement and professional development, and extracurricular activities are also positively associated with higher levels of efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Agasisti, Tommaso & Zoido, Pablo, 2019. "The efficiency of schools in developing countries, analysed through PISA 2012 data," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceps:v:68:y:2019:i:c:s0038012118303227
    DOI: 10.1016/j.seps.2019.05.002
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mergoni, Anna & Soncin, Mara & Agasisti, Tommaso, 2023. "The effect of ICT on schools’ efficiency: Empirical evidence on 23 European countries," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    3. Agasisti, Tommaso & de Oliveira Ribeiro, Celma & Montemor, Daniel Sanches, 2022. "The efficiency of Brazilian elementary public schools," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    4. Capasso, Salvatore & Kaisari, Maria & Kounetas, Konstantinos & Lainas, Elias, 2024. "School productive performance and technology gaps: New evidence from PISA 2018," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    5. Darya Dancaková & Jozef Glova & Alena Andrejovská, 2021. "The Robust Efficiency Estimation in Lower Secondary Education: Cross-Country Evidence," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(24), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Cordero, Jose Manuel & Polo, Cristina & Simancas, Rosa, 2022. "Assessing the efficiency of secondary schools: Evidence from OECD countries participating in PISA 2015," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    7. Juan Aparicio & Jose M. Cordero & Lidia Ortiz, 2021. "Efficiency Analysis with Educational Data: How to Deal with Plausible Values from International Large-Scale Assessments," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(13), pages 1-16, July.
    8. Elias P. Kourkoutas & Stefanos G. Giakoumatos, 2023. "Statistical analysis and evaluation of Greek students’ background determinants on Science literacy," Journal of Statistical and Econometric Methods, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 12(2), pages 1-2.
    9. Martínez-Campillo, Almudena & Fernández-Santos, Yolanda, 2020. "The impact of the economic crisis on the (in)efficiency of public Higher Education institutions in Southern Europe: The case of Spanish universities," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    10. Francisco Germano Carvalho Lucio & Jhorland Ayala‐García, 2022. "Public sector efficiency in Brazil," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(6), pages 308-321, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Schools' efficiency; Data envelopment analysis (DEA); Developing countries; Educational policies; OECD-PISA 2012;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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