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Educational disparities across regions: A multilevel analysis for Italy and Spain

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  • Agasisti, Tommaso
  • Cordero-Ferrera, Jose M.

Abstract

In this paper, a multilevel analysis is applied to the OECD-PISA2006 data with the aim to compare factors affecting students’ achievement across Italy and Spain. The findings show that both countries are affected by strong internal regional heterogeneity, where some regions have achievement scores well above the OECD mean and other are placed among the worst performers in the OECD area. Although regional governments are more autonomous about educational policy-making in Spain, regional indicators exert a higher influence on educational results in Italy where educational system is strictly regulated by the national government.

Suggested Citation

  • Agasisti, Tommaso & Cordero-Ferrera, Jose M., 2013. "Educational disparities across regions: A multilevel analysis for Italy and Spain," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 1079-1102.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jpolmo:v:35:y:2013:i:6:p:1079-1102
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2013.07.002
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    3. Paolo Liberati & Raffaele Lagravinese & Giuliano Resce, 2017. "How Does Economic Social And Cultural Status Affect The Efficiency Of Educational Attainments? A Comparative Analysis On Pisa Results," Departmental Working Papers of Economics - University 'Roma Tre' 0217, Department of Economics - University Roma Tre.
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    6. Ralph Hippe & Maciej Jakubowski & Luisa De Sousa Lobo Borges de Araujo, 2018. "Regional inequalities in PISA: the case of Italy and Spain," JRC Research Reports JRC109057, Joint Research Centre (Seville site).
    7. Pedraja-Chaparro, Francisco & Santín, Daniel & Simancas, Rosa, 2015. "Determinants of grade retention in France and Spain: Does birth month matter?," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 820-834.
    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. Ferraro, Simona & Põder, Kaire, 2018. "School-level policies and the efficiency and equity trade-off in education," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 1022-1037.
    10. Lopez-Agudo, Luis Alejandro & González-Betancor, Sara M. & Marcenaro-Gutierrez, Oscar David, 2021. "Language at home and academic performance: The case of Spain," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 16-33.
    11. Daniele, Vittorio, 2021. "Socioeconomic inequality and regional disparities in educational achievement: The role of relative poverty," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    12. Orazio Giancola & Luca Salmieri, 2020. "Family Background, School-Track and Macro-Area: the Complex Chains of Education Inequalities in Italy," Working Papers 4/20, Sapienza University of Rome, DISS.
    13. Susana Faria & Maria Conceição Portela, 2016. "Student Performance in Mathematics using PISA-2009 data for Portugal," Working Papers de Gestão (Management Working Papers) 01, Católica Porto Business School, Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
    14. Camanho, Ana S. & Varriale, Luisa & Barbosa, Flávia & Sobral, Thiago, 2021. "Performance assessment of upper secondary schools in Italian regions using a circular pseudo-Malmquist index," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 289(3), pages 1188-1208.
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    17. Lagravinese, Raffaele & Liberati, Paolo & Resce, Giuliano, 2020. "The impact of economic, social and cultural conditions on educational attainments," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 112-132.
    18. Garcia-Mainar, Inmaculada & Montuenga, Victor M., 2019. "The signalling role of over-education and qualifications mismatch," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 99-119.
    19. Giambona, Francesca & Porcu, Mariano, 2018. "School size and students' achievement. Empirical evidences from PISA survey data," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 66-77.
    20. Granato, Silvia, 2023. "Early Influences and the choice of college major: Can policies reduce the gender gap in scientific curricula (STEM)?," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 494-521.
    21. Mariagiulia Matteucci & Stefania Mignani, 2014. "Exploring Regional Differences in the Reading Competencies of Italian Students," Evaluation Review, , vol. 38(3), pages 251-290, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Education; Regional divergences; Cross-country comparison; Federalism; PISA;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy

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