A Stochastic Frontier Analysis of Secondary Education Output in Portugal

34 Pages Posted: 6 May 2009 Last revised: 8 May 2009

See all articles by Manuel Coutinho Pereira

Manuel Coutinho Pereira

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Sara Moreira

Bank of Portugal - Economic Research Department

Date Written: March 1, 2007

Abstract

This paper contributes to the discussion about the performance and efficiency of Portuguese secondary schools, using the stochastic production frontier analysis. We discuss the impact of school variables and the environment on output (measured by the average national examination scores), as determinants of the shape of technology and degree of efficiency. We find, in particular, that teacher seniority, school size and private management have a positive impact on output. The area where the school is located also plays an important role. Further, results show that schools differ considerably in their efficiency levels, and we also address the use of the stochastic frontier methodology in order to improve the computation of school rankings.

Keywords: Economics of education, Stochastic production frontier, Technical efficiency

JEL Classification: I21

Suggested Citation

Pereira, Manuel Coutinho and Moreira, Sara Patrícia, A Stochastic Frontier Analysis of Secondary Education Output in Portugal (March 1, 2007). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1398692 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1398692

Manuel Coutinho Pereira (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Sara Patrícia Moreira

Bank of Portugal - Economic Research Department ( email )

Av. Almirante Reis, 71, 6º
Lisboa, 1150-012
Portugal

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