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Estimating the Effect of Attending a Public versus a Private University in Colombia on Academic Achievement **** Una Estimación del Efecto sobre el Rendimiento Académico de Asistir a una Universidad Pública o privada en Colombia

Author

Listed:
  • Arlen Guarín

    (Banco de la República de Colombia)

  • Sebastián Londoño
  • Carlos Medina

    (Banco de la República de Colombia)

  • Julieth Parra
  • Christian Posso

    (Banco de la República de Colombia)

  • Carlos Eduardo Vélez

Abstract

We evaluate the impacts of attending a public university in Colombia on the academic achievement of graduates from higher education. Our measurement of academic achievement represents the progress made between the college entrance and graduation standardized test scores. We find that public Higher Education Institutions (HEI) improve student test scores in 11 of the 12 programs analyzed. The superiority of public HEIs relative to private ones suggests the need to promote greater regulation of the latter, and a review their current standards to help bridge the gap that currently exists in terms of the value added public HEIs have in comparison to the private ones. It also suggests that, at least in the short run, it could be socially beneficial to expand the public provision of some of the higher education public programs that added more value. **** Se evalúa el impacto de asistir a una universidad pública sobre el rendimiento académico de los egresados de la educación superior en Colombia. El rendimiento académico se define como el progreso entre el examen de entrada a la universidad y los resultados de las pruebas estandarizadas justo antes de la graduación. Se encuentra que los programas de Instituciones de Educación Superior (IES) públicas mejoran los resultados de los estudiantes en 11 de los 12 programas analizados. La mayoría de los resultados son robustos una vez la muestra se condiciona a programas de mayor calidad (por ejemplo, programas acreditados o las mejores universidades del país). La superioridad de las IES públicas en relación con las privadas sugiere la necesidad de promover una mayor regulación de estas últimas y una revisión de sus estándares actuales para ayudar a superar la brecha existente en términos de valor agregado de las IES públicas en comparación con las privadas. También sugiere que, al menos en el corto plazo, podría ser socialmente beneficioso ampliar la provisión pública en algunos de los programas públicos de educación superior que agregaban más valor.

Suggested Citation

  • Arlen Guarín & Sebastián Londoño & Carlos Medina & Julieth Parra & Christian Posso & Carlos Eduardo Vélez, 2016. "Estimating the Effect of Attending a Public versus a Private University in Colombia on Academic Achievement **** Una Estimación del Efecto sobre el Rendimiento Académico de Asistir a una Universidad P," Borradores de Economia 968, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    • Handle: RePEc:bdr:borrec:968
    DOI: 10.32468/be.968
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Public and private higher education; educational finance; differences in differences; matching estimators **** Educación superior pública y privada; Finanzas públicas en educación; estimador de Diferencias en Diferencias; estimador matching;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate
    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs
    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights

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