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Contracting out schools at scale: evidence from Pakistan

Author

Listed:
  • Lee Crawfurd
  • Abdullah Alam

Abstract

Can governments contract out school management at scale? In 2016 the Government of Punjab transferred management of over 4,000 failing primary schools to private operators. Schools remained free to students. Private operators received a government subsidy per enrolled student of less than half per-student spending in government schools. This paper evaluates the effects on performance of converted schools. Comparing early converters to later converters, we estimate that enrolment in treated schools increased by over 60 percent, and test scores declined sharply.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee Crawfurd & Abdullah Alam, 2023. "Contracting out schools at scale: evidence from Pakistan," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(5), pages 555-571, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:edecon:v:31:y:2023:i:5:p:555-571
    DOI: 10.1080/09645292.2022.2113859
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    JEL classification:

    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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