The Efficiency of Education Expenditure in Portugal

December 1, 1999

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Benedict J. Clements The Efficiency of Education Expenditure in Portugal, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 1999) accessed December 26, 2024

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

This paper assesses the efficiency of education expenditure in Portugal and delineates a possible agenda for reform. Portugal’s low educational performance has coincided with the highest level of primary and secondary education expenditure to GDP in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), suggesting considerable inefficiency. Empirical results from the application of a nonparametric technique for production frontier estimation (Free Disposable Hull analysis) support this view. Among the reforms that could be considered to raise educational efficiency are the adoption of a goal-oriented management and incentive system; establishment of minimum student/teacher ratios; and an easing of employment and work rules governing public school teachers.

Subject: Aging, Education, Education spending, Expenditure, Population and demographics, Public expenditure review

Keywords: Aging, Alternative curricula, Dropout rate, Education, Education spending, Efficiency score, Europe, Fiscal Policy, Free Disposable Hull Production Frontiers, Number of student, OECD country, Portugal, Primary education, Public expenditure review, Public school, Secondary education, Student population, Student ratio, Teacher ratio, Teacher salary, WP

Publication Details

Pages:

63
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Working Paper No. 1999/179
Stock No:

WPIEA1791999
ISBN:

9781451859010
ISSN:

1018-5941

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