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Beyond the resource constraint: Alternative ways to improve schooling

A well functioning schooling system is important for a number of reasons; for example, schooling is an input in the accumulation human capital, economic well-being and growth. The Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN) is organizing an international two-day conference of alternative ways to improve schooling.

International comparisons of educational attainment give at hand that there can be substantial differences in schooling outcomes across seemingly similar countries. It is difficult to draw general lessons from these comparisons though, apart from that additional resources need not be the only magical formula. There is therefore a need for empirical evidence on which to base sound policy. Over the years, economists have made important contributions to the analysis of educational policy, and the objective of the conference is to assemble leading international researchers in the economics of education to discuss recent developments as well as methodological issues. Topics that will be covered in the discussions include school accountability, student-teacher matching, teacher training, compensation and recruitment, grading systems and grading standards, student testing, teaching methods, and school management practices.

Participants

Beyond the resource constraint: Alternative ways to improve schooling, May 28-29 2009

Anders Böhlmark, SOFI, D C
Derk de Beer, Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKL)
Monique de Haan, University of Amsterdam, P
Karin Edmark, IFAU, P
Erika Ekström, Minstry of Education and Research
David Figlio, Northwestern University, P
Peter Fredriksson, IFAU, D
Erik Grönqvist, IFAU, O D C
Elisabeth Gustafsson, IFN, O
Iftikhar Hussain, Oxford University, P
Juanna Joensen, Stockholm School of Economics, D
Henrik Jordahl, IFN, O D
Stefanie Lehmann, Bonn Graduate School of Economics and London School of Economics, P
Andrew Leigh, Australian National University, P D
Mikael Lindahl, Uppsala University, O D
Sandra McNally, London School of Economics, P
Derek Neal, University of Chicago, P
Oskar Nordström-Skans, IFAU, C
Kjell Nyman, Ministry of Education and Research
Björn Öckert, IFAU, D
Hessel Oosterbeek, Free University Amsterdam, D C
Tuomas Pekkarinen, Helsinki School of Economics, D
Jonah Rockoff, Columbia University, P D
Anna Sjögren, IFAU & IFN, P
Helena Svaleryd, IFN, D
Jonas Vlachos, Stockholm University & IFN, O P
Ludger Woessmann, Ifo Institute for Economic Research, P

O = Organizer; P = Presenter; D = Discussant; C = Co-author

Program

Beyond the Resource Constraint:
Alternative Ways to Improve Schooling

The presenter is in bold. Each presentation should take 35 minutes, the discussant may use 10 minutes and 5 minutes are devoted to general discussion.

--- Wednesday May 27 ---

19.30

Pre Conference Dinner, Waxholm's Hotel, for conference participants arriving on Wednesday

--- Thursday May 28 ---

08.45–09.00	Registration
09.00–09.10	Welcome address
Session I	Chair: Henrik Jordahl

09.10–10.00	Anna Sjögren – Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN) and Institute for Labor Market Policy Evaluation (IFAU) The Long Run Consequences of Being Graded in Elementary School Discussant: Erik Grönqvist – IFAU
10.00–10.50	Jonah Rockoff – Columbia University Information and Employee Evaluation: Evidence from a Randomized Intervention in Public Schools (co-authors: Douglas Staiger, Thomas Kane and Eric Taylor) Discussant: Tuomas Pekkarinen – Helsinki School of Economics
10.50–11.20	Coffee
11.20–12.10	Jonas Vlachos – Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN) and Stockholm University The Headmaster Ritual (co-authors: Anders Böhlmark and Erik Grönqvist) Discussant: Andrew Leigh – Australian National University
12.10–13.40	Lunch
Session II	Chair: Jonas Vlachos

13.40–14.30	Iftikhar Hussain – University of Oxford School Quality, School Choice and the Teacher Labour Market: Evidence From a Novel Disclosure Regime Discussant: Henrik Jordahl – Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)
14.30–15.20	Monique de Haan – University of Amsterdam School Choice and Pupil Outcomes: Evidence from Dutch Reform Data (co-authors: Hessel Oosterbeek and Edwin Leuven) Discussant: Juanna Joensen – Stockholm School of Economics
15.20–15.50	Coffee
15.50–16.40	David Figlio – Northwestern University School Accountability and the Teacher Mobility (co-authors: Li Feng and Tim Sass) Discussant: Mikael Lindahl – Uppsala University
16.40–17.30	Derek Neal – University of Chicago Pay for Percentile (co-author: Gadi Barlevy) Discussant: Peter Fredriksson – Institute for Labor Market Policy Evaluation (IFAU)
17.40–18:30	Before dinner run (optional)
18.45–22.00	Boat trip with dinner

--- Friday May 29 ---


Session III	Chair: Erik Grönqvist
09.00–09.50	Andrew Leigh – Australian National University Teacher Pay and Teacher Aptitude Discussant: Jonah Rockoff – Columbia University
09.50–10.40	Ludger Woessmann – University of Munich The Signaling Value of Central School Exams (co-authors: Guido Schwerdt) Discussant: Helena Svaleryd – Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)
10.40–11.10	Coffee – Remember to check out
11.10–12.00	Sandra McNally – London School of Economics The Three Rs: What Scope is There for Literacy and Numeracy Policies to Raise Pupil Achievement? (co-author: Stephen Machin) Discussant: Björn Öckert – Institute for Labor Market Policy Evaluation (IFAU)
12.00–13.30	Lunch
Session IV	Chair: Mikael Lindahl
13.30–14.20	Karin Edmark – IFAU The Causal Effects of High School Tracks on Cognitive Skills, Educational Attainment, and Labor Market Outcomes (co-author: Oskar Nordström-Skans) Discussant: Hessel Oosterbeek – Free University Amsterdam
14.20–15.20	Stefanie Lehmann – Bonn Graduate School of Economics and London School of Economics How Do Teachers Respond to Incentive Schemes? Findings from a Laboratory Experiment Discussant: Anders Böhlmark – SOFI, Stockholm University
15.10–16.00