IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecolet/v267y2026ics0165176526002570.html

Correcting sample selection bias in PISA rankings

Author

Listed:
  • Boussim, Onil

Abstract

This paper proposes a method to account for sample selection (survivor bias) in cross-country comparisons. International assessments such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) observe outcomes only for students enrolled in school at age 15, which can distort comparisons in countries with high dropout rates. I consider a quantile-based selection correction that delivers bounds on countries’ average performance rather than point estimates. Using these bounds, I construct optimistic and pessimistic rankings, with each country’s true rank lying between the two. An application to PISA 2018 shows that correcting for selection bias leads to substantial changes in countries’ average scores and rankings.

Suggested Citation

  • Boussim, Onil, 2026. "Correcting sample selection bias in PISA rankings," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:267:y:2026:i:c:s0165176526002570
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2026.113063
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165176526002570
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.econlet.2026.113063?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • C34 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Truncated and Censored Models; Switching Regression Models
    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:267:y:2026:i:c:s0165176526002570. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ecolet .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.