Title

Efficiency in Public Schools: Does Competition Matter?

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2008

Publication Source

Journal of Econometrics

Abstract

The focus of many recent school reforms has been on changing the incentives faced by school administrators, mainly through increased competition. In this study, we assess whether competition amongst public schools influences the efficiency in which these schools operate, using a two-stage estimation procedure and data from the state of Illinois from 1997–1998. We find some evidence that public school districts become more efficient as neighboring districts become more efficient. However, such spillovers only occur if districts operate within a financially flexible environment.

Inclusive pages

134-157

ISBN/ISSN

0304-4076

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

145

Peer Reviewed

yes

Issue

1-2

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