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Does Test-Based Teacher Recruitment Work in the Developing World? Experimental Evidence from Ecuador

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  • Araujo P., María Daniela
  • Heineck, Guido
  • Cruz-Aguayo, Yyannú

Abstract

Since 2007, the Ecuadorian government has required teacher candidates to pass national skill and content knowledge tests before they are allowed to participate in merit-based selection competitions for tenured positions at public schools in an attempt to raise teacher quality. We evaluate the impact of this policy using linked administrative teacher information to data from a unique experimental study where almost 15,000 kindergarten children were randomly assigned to their teachers in the 2012-2013 school year in Ecuador. We find positive and significant effects of test-screened tenured teachers of at least a 0.105 standard deviation for language and a 0.085 standard deviation for math, which persist even after controlling for teacher education, experience, cognitive ability, personality traits and classroom practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Araujo P., María Daniela & Heineck, Guido & Cruz-Aguayo, Yyannú, 2021. "Does Test-Based Teacher Recruitment Work in the Developing World? Experimental Evidence from Ecuador," VfS Annual Conference 2021 (Virtual Conference): Climate Economics 242448, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc21:242448
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Savin, Ivan & Mundt, Philipp, 2022. "Drivers of productivity change in global value chains: Reallocation vs. innovation," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    3. Sahm, Marco, 2022. "Optimal accuracy of unbiased Tullock contests with two heterogeneous players," BERG Working Paper Series 175, Bamberg University, Bamberg Economic Research Group.
    4. Daske, Thomas & March, Christoph, 2024. "Efficient incentives with social preferences," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 19(3), July.
    5. Mundt, Philipp & Cantner, Uwe & Inoue, Hiroyasu & Savin, Ivan & Vannuccini, Simone, 2021. "Market selection in global value chains," BERG Working Paper Series 170, Bamberg University, Bamberg Economic Research Group.
    6. Schulz, Jan & Mayerhoffer, Daniel M., 2021. "A network approach to consumption," BERG Working Paper Series 173, Bamberg University, Bamberg Economic Research Group.
    7. Schmitt, Sefanie Y. & Bruckner, Dominik, 2022. "Unaware consumers and disclosure of deficiencies," BERG Working Paper Series 178, Bamberg University, Bamberg Economic Research Group.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    teacher quality; education policy evaluation; Latin America;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J45 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Public Sector Labor Markets

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