Some Remarks on the Effectiveness of Primary Education Interventions

Olmo Silva ()

No 5, IZA Policy Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: In this paper I survey the recent economics of education literature in order to identify which education policies can effectively improve the quality of primary schooling, as measured by pupil test-based achievements. Particular attention is devoted to the experience of England, a country which has made substantial investments over the past decade aimed at improving its primary education. Evidence suggests that broadly scoped resource-based programmes deliver less than more targeted policies. Additionally, a growing body of research shows that interventions that enhance choice and competition among education-service providers, and motivate teachers through pecuniary rewards, have some scope in raising education standards. I conclude my survey by discussing some broad concerns with modes of education provision centred on choice and competition, mainly pupil segregation along the lines of ability and family background.

Keywords: primary schools; resources; choice and competition; incentives (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H52 I20 I28 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 41 pages
Date: 2009-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu, nep-lab and nep-ure
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