Regional Differences in Italian School Efficiency: A Conditional DEA Approach

Giorgia Zotti ()
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Giorgia Zotti: University of Bari

No 05-2024, SERIES from Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza - Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro"

Abstract: This research investigates the intricate interplay among school performance, educational achievements, individual backgrounds, and regional differences within Italian secondary education. Drawing on data from the 2021-2022 Invalsi database, the study focuses on final-year high school students, examining the relationship between Standardized Invalsi test scores and Official grades in Italian and Mathematics. The primary goal is to assess school efficiency using a Conditional Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach. Additionally, the paper explores regional differences in school performance through the application of the Theil Index. Critical determinants of school performance, such as school size and socioeconomic status, are identified. The findings highlight significant regional disparities, revealing that schools in the north of Italy outperform those in the south, particularly in Invalsi scores. Moreover, certain schools tend to excel in official grades relative to their Invalsi scores, indicating the need for policies to address these regional educational inequalities and improve school performance across Italy.

Keywords: School Efficiency; Conditional DEA; Regional Differences; Educational Achievements; Invalsi (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I21 I24 I26 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 277
Date: 2024-11, Revised 2024-11
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