What Accounts for International Differences in Student Performance? A Re-Examination Using PISA Data

Thomas Fuchs and Ludger Woessmann

No 1287, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We use the PISA student-level achievement database to estimate international education production functions. Student characteristics, family backgrounds, home inputs, resources, teachers and institutions are all significantly related to math, science and reading achievement. Our models account for more than 85% of the between-country performance variation, with roughly 25% accruing to institutional variation. Student performance is higher with external exams and budget formulation, but also with school autonomy in textbook choice, hiring teachers and within-school budget allocations. School autonomy is more beneficial in systems with external exit exams. Students perform better in privately operated schools, but private funding is not decisive.

Keywords: PISA; education production function; international variation in student performance; institutional effects in schooling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H52 I28 J24 L33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 39 pages
Date: 2004-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu and nep-lab
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (29)

Published - published in: Empirical Economics, 2007, 32 (2-3), 433-464

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Related works:
Chapter: What accounts for international differences in student prformance? A re-examination using PISA data (2008)
Journal Article: What accounts for international differences in student performance? A re-examination using PISA data (2007)
Working Paper: What accounts for international differences in student performance? A re-examination using PISA data (2007)
Working Paper: What Accounts for International Differences in Student Performance? A Re-examination using PISA Data (2004)
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