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Defining Productivity in Education: Issues and Illustrations

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  • Eric A. Hanushek
  • Elizabeth Ettema

Abstract

To discuss how productivity in education might be improved, we must first measure where it stands. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports productivity statistics for private sector industries, but not for education, leaving various researchers to attempt such calculations using various inputs and outputs. This article explores existing productivity measures in the private sector, and how these might be applied to education. It then uses examples of possible education productivity measures for the United States to explore education productivity trends over time and possible explanations for these trends. Across alternative measures, productivity in K-12 education has fallen for four decades.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric A. Hanushek & Elizabeth Ettema, 2017. "Defining Productivity in Education: Issues and Illustrations," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 62(2), pages 165-183, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:amerec:v:62:y:2017:i:2:p:165-183
    DOI: 10.1177/0569434516688207
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Erik Hanushek & Stephen Machin & Ludger Woessmann (ed.), 2011. "Handbook of the Economics of Education," Handbook of the Economics of Education, Elsevier, edition 1, volume 4, number 4, June.
    2. Richard J. Murnane, 2013. "U.S. High School Graduation Rates: Patterns and Explanations," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 51(2), pages 370-422, June.
    3. Hanushek, Eric A. & Woessmann, Ludger, 2011. "The Economics of International Differences in Educational Achievement," Handbook of the Economics of Education, in: Erik Hanushek & Stephen Machin & Ludger Woessmann (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Education, edition 1, volume 3, chapter 2, pages 89-200, Elsevier.
    4. Hanushek, Eric A. & Schwerdt, Guido & Wiederhold, Simon & Woessmann, Ludger, 2015. "Returns to skills around the world: Evidence from PIAAC," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 103-130.
    5. Eric A. Hanushek & Marc Piopiunik & Simon Wiederhold, 2019. "The Value of Smarter Teachers: International Evidence on Teacher Cognitive Skills and Student Performance," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 54(4), pages 857-899.
    6. Eric A. Hanushek & Ludger Woessmann, 2008. "The Role of Cognitive Skills in Economic Development," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 46(3), pages 607-668, September.
    7. James J. Heckman & Paul A. LaFontaine, 2010. "The American High School Graduation Rate: Trends and Levels," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 92(2), pages 244-262, May.
    8. Hanushek, Eric A. & Woessmann, Ludger, 2015. "The Knowledge Capital of Nations: Education and the Economics of Growth," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262029170, December.
    9. Eric A. Hanushek, 2003. "The Failure of Input-Based Schooling Policies," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 113(485), pages 64-98, February.
    10. Eric A. Hanushek & Marc Piopiunik & Simon Wiederhold, 2014. "International Evidence on Teacher Cognitive Skills and Student Performance," CID Working Papers 63, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    11. Erik Hanushek & Stephen Machin & Ludger Woessmann (ed.), 2011. "Handbook of the Economics of Education," Handbook of the Economics of Education, Elsevier, edition 1, volume 3, number 3, June.
    12. Mike G Phelps & Sophia Kamarudeen & Katherine Mills & Richard Wild, 2010. "Total public service output, inputs and productivity," Economic & Labour Market Review, Palgrave Macmillan;Office for National Statistics, vol. 4(10), pages 89-112, October.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Moonyoung Eom & Hyungchul Yoo & Jisung Yoo, 2022. "Efficiency and Productivity of Local Educational Administration in Korea Using the Malmquist Productivity Index," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-14, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    educational productivity; Baumol’s Disease; education costs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity

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