期刊-NBER美国国民经济研究局-2011no1_32页_1mb

报告摘要

NBER Economics of Education Program Summary

Core Content

The NBER Economics of Education Program is a highly productive and dynamic research initiative that has seen significant growth since 2006, with approximately 7.5 new Working Papers added monthly. The program emphasizes rigorous, data-driven research that is both methodologically sound and policy-relevant. It has integrated the Higher Education Working Group since 2009, enhancing the scope and depth of its research on educational outcomes at all levels.

Main Research Themes

1. Peer Effects and Teacher Influence

Research has shown that peer effects significantly impact student achievement. Students in high-achieving environments tend to perform better.
Teacher effects on student performance are well-documented. When a teacher with a strong positive impact moves to a new school, their colleagues also improve their performance, indicating that the improvement is due to learning and adaptation, not just selection.
The program has also explored how students choose colleges, finding that low-income students tend to apply to fewer and less selective colleges compared to their more affluent peers, even when they are academically qualified.

2. Information and Its Role in Educational Outcomes

The importance of information in education has become a central theme. Small changes in the availability or framing of information can lead to significant behavioral shifts.
For example, ACT policy changes (increasing the number of free score reports) led to a 20% increase in college applications.
School report cards in Pakistan improved student learning by 0.10 standard deviations and increased enrollment, with private schools showing stronger improvements.
In New York City, teacher evaluations that provided information on teacher performance led to improved student achievement, though the effect was modest.

3. Incentives for Students, Teachers, and Schools

Incentive-based programs have been shown to influence educational outcomes. For instance, merit scholarships in Canada improved grades and persistence for female students, while cash rewards for better grades had a positive effect on male students.
Performance pay for teachers in India resulted in measurable gains in student achievement, particularly in math and language tests, suggesting that such incentives can be effective.
School accountability pressures in the U.S. also influence outcomes. Schools that "just fail" under state accountability programs tend to improve student achievement more than those that "just pass."

Key Findings

Information interventions are often cost-effective and can lead to significant behavioral changes, such as increased college enrollment and improved academic performance.
Incentives can be more effective than resource-based interventions in some cases, especially when they are well-targeted.
Durable capital (e.g., vehicles, homes) plays a long-term role in carbon emissions and energy efficiency. The NAFTA used vehicle export study highlights how free trade in used goods can slow down environmental improvements.
School choice mechanisms can lead to better outcomes for informed families, often due to parental socioeconomic status influencing access to information and resources.

Conclusion

The NBER Economics of Education Program continues to be a leader in understanding how information and incentives affect educational outcomes. These themes are increasingly recognized as crucial for policy design, offering low-cost, high-impact solutions to improve student performance and school quality. The program's ability to generate policy-relevant, credible, and methodologically rigorous research underscores its importance in shaping educational policy and practice.

Additional Information

NBER is a private, nonprofit research organization founded in 1920, dedicated to quantitative economic analysis.
The program benefits from rich datasets and collaborative relationships with data providers and educational institutions.
Funding is sourced from individuals, corporations, and private foundations, ensuring the organization's independence and flexibility.