What's the Good of Education: The Economics of Education in the UK

(Paperback)

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Description

Volumes have been written about the value of more and better education. But is there sufficient evidence to support the commonly held belief that we, as inidividuals and as a community, should be investing more in education This book explores that question in unprecedented detail, drawing on empirical evidence from an impressive array of sources. While much of the focus is on the educational system in the United Kingdom, the book offers lessons of international applicability. A state-of-the art compendium on education policy and its impact on educational attainment, the book examines numerous large-scale data sources on individual pupils and schools. The questions the book considers are far-ranging: How much do teachers matter for children's educational attainment What payoff do people get from acquiring more education when they enter the labor market How well do education systems function to provide employers with the skills they want The book concludes by issuing some strong policy recommendations and offering an evaluation of what does and does not work in improving educational attainment. The recommendations address such issues as school effectiveness, education financing, individual investment in education, government education initiatives, higher education, labor market rewards, and lifelong learning.

Reviews

"This is a must-read for anyone interested in the economic analysis of the United Kingdom's education system. It provides a comprehensive summary of key policy issues and clarifies what the data tell us about these issues. Well-written, with helpful cross-references, the book will appeal to readers inside and outside of the UK." - Julian Betts, University of California, San Diego "The authors have taken on a formidable assignment, appealing not only to people who are familiar with the topic, but also to those who ought to know more about economics, but are not easily enticed into it." - Ted Wragg, University of Exeter"

Author Bio

Stephen Machin is Professor of Economics at the University College of London, Research Director of the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics, and Director of the Centre for the Economics of Education. Anna Vignoles is Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Education and Research Associate of the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics.