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Evaluating the impact of performance-related pay for teachers in England

Author

Listed:
  • Atkinson, Adele
  • Burgess, Simon
  • Croxson, Bronwyn
  • Gregg, Paul
  • Propper, Carol
  • Slater, Helen
  • Wilson, Deborah

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impact of a performance-related pay scheme for teachers in England. Using data which matches individual pupils to individual teachers, and contains both test scores and value-added, we test whether the introduction of a payment scheme based on pupil attainment increased teacher effort. Our evaluation design controls for pupil effects, school effects and teacher effects, and adopts a difference-in-difference methodology. We find that the scheme did improve test scores and value added increased on average by about 40% of a grade per pupil.

Suggested Citation

  • Atkinson, Adele & Burgess, Simon & Croxson, Bronwyn & Gregg, Paul & Propper, Carol & Slater, Helen & Wilson, Deborah, 2009. "Evaluating the impact of performance-related pay for teachers in England," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 251-261, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:16:y:2009:i:3:p:251-261
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Incentives Teachers pay Education reform Pupil attainment;

    JEL classification:

    • J33 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods
    • J45 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Public Sector Labor Markets
    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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