ECONOMICS OF EDUCATION: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE
George PSACHAROPOULOS (Hellenic Parliament)
Economics of education is a relatively new field. In the last three decades
of its existence, it has generated a great number of hypotheses, empirical findings
and predictions, as well as Nobel prizes. However, in the world of education
we live, there is an obvious divide between theory and practice. Ministries
of Education, in both industrial and developing countries, often act as if economics
of education did not exist.
The paper starts by reviewing major findings in the economics of education
and their relevance to education policy making. It discusses the reasons why
some robust research findings in the economics of education do not translate
into practice. And it concludes by listing a number of research questions that
are still open in the field.