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Exploring the robustness of country rankings by educational attainment

Author

Listed:
  • Carsten Schroeder

    (Free University Berlin)

  • Shlomo Yitzhaki

    (Hebrew University)

Abstract

The measurement scale of exam scores is ordinal. This ordinal measurement implies that monotonic transformations of published scales convey the same information. Hence, countries should not be ranked according to averaged scores because there may be transformations that would change the mean-based rankings. We suggest alternatives to the mean-based ranking procedure that yield informative and robust rankings. An implementation of these procedures, using PISA 2012 math scores, suggests that previous mean-based country rankings are sensitive to the aforementioned transformations.

Suggested Citation

  • Carsten Schroeder & Shlomo Yitzhaki, 2020. "Exploring the robustness of country rankings by educational attainment," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 129(3), pages 271-296, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jeczfn:v:129:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s00712-019-00682-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s00712-019-00682-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Schröder, Carsten & Yitzhaki, Shlomo, 2017. "Revisiting the evidence for cardinal treatment of ordinal variables," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 337-358.
    2. Elizabeth U. Cascio & Douglas O. Staiger, 2012. "Knowledge, Tests, and Fadeout in Educational Interventions," NBER Working Papers 18038, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Jeffrey Penney, 2017. "Test Score Measurement and the Black-White Test Score Gap," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 99(4), pages 652-656, July.
    4. Timothy N. Bond & Kevin Lang, 2013. "The Evolution of the Black-White Test Score Gap in Grades K–3: The Fragility of Results," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 95(5), pages 1468-1479, December.
    5. Kevin Lang, 2010. "Measurement Matters: Perspectives on Education Policy from an Economist and School Board Member," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 24(3), pages 167-182, Summer.
    6. G. Hanoch & H. Levy, 1969. "The Efficiency Analysis of Choices Involving Risk," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 36(3), pages 335-346.
    7. Frederic Lord, 1975. "The ‘ability’ scale in item characteristic curve theory," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 40(2), pages 205-217, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Avvisati, Francesco & Givord, Pauline, 2023. "The learning gain over one school year among 15-year-olds: An international comparison based on PISA," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Latent ability; PISA; Test scores; Education; Schooling;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C18 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Methodolical Issues: General
    • D04 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Policy: Formulation; Implementation; Evaluation
    • D30 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - General
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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