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Data Watch: Research Data in the Economics of Education

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  • Thomas S. Dee
  • William N. Evans
  • Sheila E. Murray

Abstract

One reason for the recent proliferation of empirical studies addressing the role of education in promoting individual and social welfare has been the emergence of high-quality, micro-level data on education. In this paper, we discuss three broad types of data sets: data on educational institutions, data on educational outcomes at the individual level, and data sets from school reforms and experiments. In each section, we summarize some of the leading surveys, discuss the general availability of the data, and identify some, but certainly not all, of the research that has utilized these data. This review is by no means exhaustive. We have restricted our attention to analyses of data sets describing primary and secondary education. Moreover, we emphasize data sets that are excellent sources of information but are less well known and utilized by economists.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas S. Dee & William N. Evans & Sheila E. Murray, 1999. "Data Watch: Research Data in the Economics of Education," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 13(3), pages 205-216, Summer.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:jecper:v:13:y:1999:i:3:p:205-216
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/jep.13.3.205
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    File URL: http://www.aeaweb.org/articles.php?doi=10.1257/jep.13.3.205
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas S. Dee, 2004. "Teachers, Race, and Student Achievement in a Randomized Experiment," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 86(1), pages 195-210, February.
    2. Katherine Caves & Simone Balestra, 2018. "The impact of high school exit exams on graduation rates and achievement," The Journal of Educational Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 111(2), pages 186-200, March.
    3. Christopher C. Klein, 2007. "Efficiency versus Effectiveness: Interpreting Education Production Studies," Working Papers 200703, Middle Tennessee State University, Department of Economics and Finance.
    4. Thomas S. Dee, 2004. "Lotteries, Litigation, and Education Finance," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 70(3), pages 584-599, January.

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    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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