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Freeing the Italian school system

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  • Ichino, Andrea
  • Tabellini, Guido

Abstract

The disappointing performance of the school system in Italy is one of the likely factors that reduce growth in this country. We take it as a case study with interesting implications for other European countries with similar school systems. Lack of funding is not the answer. The Italian school system needs to move in the direction of more autonomy given to individual schools, in the management of teachers and in the curriculum. The paper discusses a reform proposal that can achieve this goal, while at the same time learning from international experiences. Specifically we adapt to the Italian environment a similar reform introduced in the UK in 1988 and the best of the Charter Schools experiences in the USA.

Suggested Citation

  • Ichino, Andrea & Tabellini, Guido, 2014. "Freeing the Italian school system," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 113-128.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:30:y:2014:i:c:p:113-128
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2014.05.009
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    Cited by:

    1. Joshua D. Angrist & Erich Battistin & Daniela Vuri, 2014. "In a Small Moment: Class Size and Moral Hazard in the Mezzogiorno," FBK-IRVAPP Working Papers 2014-04, Research Institute for the Evaluation of Public Policies (IRVAPP), Bruno Kessler Foundation.
    2. Contini, Dalit & Tommaso, Maria Laura Di & Mendolia, Silvia, 2017. "The gender gap in mathematics achievement: Evidence from Italian data," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 32-42.
    3. Camanho, Ana S. & Varriale, Luisa & Barbosa, Flávia & Sobral, Thiago, 2021. "Performance assessment of upper secondary schools in Italian regions using a circular pseudo-Malmquist index," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 289(3), pages 1188-1208.
    4. Joshua D. Angrist & Erich Battistin & Daniela Vuri, 2014. "In a Small Moment: Class Size and Moral Hazard in the Mezzogiorno," NBER Working Papers 20173, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Joshua D. Angrist & Erich Battistin & Daniela Vuri, 2017. "In a Small Moment: Class Size and Moral Hazard in the Italian Mezzogiorno," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 9(4), pages 216-249, October.
    6. Flisi, Sara & Goglio, Valentina & Meroni, Elena Claudia & Vera-Toscano, Esperanza, 2019. "Cohort patterns in adult literacy skills: How are new generations doing?," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 52-65.

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