Do Differences in Schools' Instruction Time Explain International Achievement Gaps? Evidence from Developed and Developing Countries

Lavy, Victor

Do Differences in Schools' Instruction Time Explain International Achievement Gaps? Evidence from Developed and Developing Countries

No 16227, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: The time that children spend in school varies across countries. Do these differences explain international gaps in pupils' academic achievements? In this paper, I estimate the effects of instructional time on students' achievement using PISA 2006 data, which includes data samples from over 50 countries. I find that instructional time has a positive and significant effect on test scores, and that the effect is much lower in developing countries. Evidence also suggests that the productivity of instructional time is higher in countries which implemented school accountability measures or that gave schools autonomy in budgetary decisions and in hiring/firing teachers.

JEL-codes: I21 I28 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-07
Note: CH ED LS
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (33)

Published as Victor Lavy, 2015. "Do Differences in Schools' Instruction Time Explain International Achievement Gaps? Evidence from Developed and Developing Countries," The Economic Journal, vol 125(588), pages F397-F424.

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