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Estimating the effect of teacher pay on pupil attainment using boundary discontinuities

Author

Listed:
  • Ellen Greaves

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and University of Bristol)

  • Luke Sibieta

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and Institute for Fiscal Studies)

Abstract

This paper provides causal estimates of the effect of teacher pay on pupil attainment using a sharp geographical discontinuity in teacher salaries. We compare schools in close proximity to a pay zone boundary to estimate the effect of teacher salary differentials on pupil attainment. We find that these differences in salary scales do translate into differences into actual teacher pay levels. However, we find little evidence that higher teacher salary scales increases pupil attainment in national assessments at age 11, and are able to rule out quantitatively small effects of 0.07 and 0.02 standard deviations in English and maths, respectively. These results imply that variations in teacher pay of the magnitude we observe (around 5%) are unlikely to be effective for attracting and retaining higher quality teachers.

Suggested Citation

  • Ellen Greaves & Luke Sibieta, 2014. "Estimating the effect of teacher pay on pupil attainment using boundary discontinuities," IFS Working Papers W14/03, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:ifs:ifsewp:14/03
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    Cited by:

    1. Sander Gerritsen & Sonny Kuijpers & Marc van der Steeg, 2015. "The effects of higher teacher pay on teacher retention," CPB Discussion Paper 316.rdf, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    2. Sander Gerritsen & Sonny Kuijpers & Marc van der Steeg, 2015. "The effects of higher teacher pay on teacher retention," CPB Discussion Paper 316, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    3. Blanden, Jo & Greaves, Ellen & Gregg, Paul & Macmillan, Lindsey & Sibieta, Luke, 2015. "Understanding the improved performance of disadvantaged pupils in London," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 121536, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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