Outsourcing Education: Experimental Evidence from Liberia

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Romero, Mauricio; Sandefur, Justin; Sandholtz, Wayne Aaron
• 署名单位: Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico; University of California System; University of California San Diego
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.20181478
• 发表日期: 2020
• 页码: 364-400
• 关键词: management matter; CHOICE EVIDENCE; school choice; test-scores; achievement; IMPACT; incentives; services; increase; inputs

摘要

In 2016, the Liberian government delegated management of 93 randomly selected public schools to private providers. Providers received US$50 per pupil, on top of US$50 per pupil annual expenditure in control schools. After one academic year, students in out-sourced schools scored 0.18s higher in English and mathematics. We do not find heterogeneity in learning gains or enrollment by student characteristics, but there is significant heterogeneity across providers. While outsourcing appears to be a cost-effective way to use new resources to improve test scores, some providers engaged in unforeseen and potentially harmful behavior, complicating any assessment of welfare gains. (JEL H41, I21, I28, O15)