Advocates for educational reform frequently call for policies to increase competition between schools because it is argued that market forces naturally lead to greater efficiencies, including improved student learning, when schools face competition. Researchers examining this issue are confronted with difficulties in defining reasonable measures…

We evaluate the impact of Florida's test-based promotion policy on the probability that low-performing students are retained using data on the universe of third-grade students in the state of Florida from 2001 to 2004. We also examine the effect of formal exemptions to the policy on student proficiency in reading two years later. In an evaluation…

We analyse the role of educational choice on the degree of occupational segregation in Trinidad and Tobago during a period in which educational policies intent on equating gender opportunities in education were implemented. To this end we utilize waves of the Trinidad and Tobago labour force survey over the period 1991-2004. Our results show that…

Because entrepreneurial activity is a key source of economic growth, promoting youth entrepreneurship has become a priority for policymakers. School choice programs force administrators and teachers to be more entrepreneurial in their jobs by encouraging innovation and by creating competition and a more business-like environment in K-12 education.…

Provides a "deliberately provocative bird's-eye view" of new directions in thinking among economists concerned with education. Looks at the socialization function of schooling, the use of educational attainment as a hiring criterion, the importance of the "incomplete" employment contract, and labor market segmentation theory. Considers…

Public school teachers earn more money, and possess more of the characteristics valued in the teaching market, than do private school teachers. Organizational and ownership structure of schools appears to make a difference in teacher salaries. Profit-making schools are among the lowest paying, second only to parochial schools. (Author/MD)

If productivity and earnings are not found to result from education, then an alternative theory could be that employers use education as a screening device to select employees. Employing the decomposition technique to compare income for self-employed and private sector employees, evidence is presented that rejects the screenist theory. (Author/MD)

Outlines Northeast Missouri State University's Value-Added Student Assessment Program, which determines the value added to students as they progress through the educational system. The program has been functioning for over a decade and affects nearly every aspect of the university. (MD)

Reviews national interests in education and considers the effectiveness of different forms of federal grants in addressing those interests. Concludes that providing equalization aid is the only appropriate purpose for block grants since such grants do not encourage state and local agencies to concern themselves with national priorities. (PGD)

Examines recent major proposals for improvements in elementary and secondary education from an economic perspective and assesses their likely effects. Suggests that efficient, effective, and equitable use of resources has not been fully considered in the preparation of the proposals. (PGD)

Explores the great diversity of public and private support of education in various countries. Part I presents a theoretical model relating the relative size of the educational private sector to excess and heterogeneous demand. Part II applies this model to the United States, Japan, Holland, and India. Includes 18 references. (MLH)

Using a random sample of 12,000 teachers in over 500 New York State school districts, this paper considers the effect of specific union-negotiated, employment-related job provisions on the job separations of individual teachers. Reductions in force and class-size limitations provisions reduce the probability of teacher resignations or dismissals.…

Explores whether education reduces the effects of certain socioeconomic variables on school performance. Achievement scores of high school and college students in Puerto Rico are related to family income, size, and education. Results indicate that college education reduces the gaps created by inherent conditions among sampled students. Includes 17…

Municipal overburden hypothesizes a causal relationship between high levels of nonschool municipal expenditure (due to high population density, aged housing stock, and other demographic factors) and low school spending levels. This article disproves the hypothesis by estimating demand for education expenditures using a median voter model. Includes…

The determinants of Scholastic Aptitude Test scores are estimated for 1982 in a regression analysis correcting for the proportion of students taking the test. Schooling variables and statewide graduation standards proved insignificant. Demographic variables (family size and education levels) proved significant and help explain SAT score decline in…