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Governance by comparison: How ratings & rankings impact national policy-making in education

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  • Martens, Kerstin
  • Niemann, Dennis

Abstract

How can international comparisons have an impact on one country while others are not affected at all? This paper examines the power of ratings & rakings (R&R) using the example of the OECD's PISA study (Programme for International Student Assessment) and its differential impact on national education policy making. We argue that R&R have an impact if the evaluated topic is framed as crucial for national objectives and if, at the same time, a substantial gap between national self-perception and the empirical results can be observed. After assessing the media impact of PISA on 22 OECD countries, we illustrate our theoretical argument through the use of examples of two poorly performing countries who demonstrated entirely opposite reactions: Germany and the U.S. While the German system of secondary education was strongly affected by the international comparison and underwent comprehensive changes, the U.S. did not respond to its below-average ranking at all. The theoretical concepts of self-perception and framing offer explanatory power to delineate the different reaction patterns.

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  • Martens, Kerstin & Niemann, Dennis, 2010. "Governance by comparison: How ratings & rankings impact national policy-making in education," TranState Working Papers 139, University of Bremen, Collaborative Research Center 597: Transformations of the State.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:sfb597:139
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    1. Barnett, Michael N. & Finnemore, Martha, 1999. "The Politics, Power, and Pathologies of International Organizations," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 53(4), pages 699-732, October.
    2. David Carey, 2008. "Improving Education Outcomes in Germany," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 611, OECD Publishing.
    3. Abbott, Kenneth W. & Snidal, Duncan, 2000. "Hard and Soft Law in International Governance," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 54(3), pages 421-456, July.
    4. Finnemore, Martha, 1993. "International organizations as teachers of norms: the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cutural Organization and science policy," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 47(4), pages 565-597, October.
    5. Patrick McGuinn, 2005. "The National Schoolmarm: No Child Left Behind and the New Educational Federalism," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 35(1), pages 41-68, Winter.
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    1. Alasuutari Pertti & Vähä-Savo Valtteri & Pi Ferrer Laia, 2019. "National Self-Image as a Justification in Policy Debates: An International Comparison," New Global Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 13(2), pages 167-189, July.

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