Budget-constrained frontier measures of fiscal equality and efficiency in schooling

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Grosskopf, S; Hayes, KJ; Taylor, LL; Weber, WL
• 署名单位: Southern Methodist University; Federal Reserve System - USA; Federal Reserve Bank - Dallas
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/003465397556458
• 发表日期: 1997-02
• 页码: 116-124
• 关键词: public-schools; quality matter; teacher unions; performance; education; PRODUCTIVITY; district; issues

摘要

Equality and efficiency are key issues in educational reform. Here the authors analyze the efficiency and equality consequences of various school finance reforms using a cost-indirect output distance function. This function readily models multiple-output production under conditions of budgetary constraint, and provides a natural measure of performance that is closely related to Farrell-type measures of efficiency. The analysis suggests that despite school district inefficiency, finance reforms can affect student achievement. However, any potential gains in output from redistribution are dwarfed by the potential gains from increased efficiency. More strikingly, the analysis demonstrates that budgetary reforms designed to equalize expenditures could actually increase the inequality of student achievement.