Using the Oaxaca-Blinder Decomposition Technique to Analyze Learning Outcomes Changes over Time : An Application to Indonesia’s Results in PISA Mathematics
The Oaxaca-Blinder technique was originally used in labor economics to decompose earnings gaps and to estimate the level of discrimination. It has been applied since in other social issues, including education, where it can be used to assess how mu...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Policy Research Working Paper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2012
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20110301085640 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3350 |
| Summary: | The Oaxaca-Blinder technique was
originally used in labor economics to decompose earnings
gaps and to estimate the level of discrimination. It has
been applied since in other social issues, including
education, where it can be used to assess how much of a gap
is due to differences in characteristics (explained
variation) and how much is due to policy or system changes
(unexplained variation). The authors apply the decomposition
technique in an effort to analyze the increase in
Indonesia's score in PISA mathematics. Between 2003 and
2006, Indonesia's score increased by 30 points, or 0.3
of a standard deviation. The test score increase is assessed
in relation to family, student, school and institutional
characteristics. The gap over time is decomposed into its
constituent components based on the estimation of cognitive
achievement production functions. The decomposition results
suggest that almost the entire test score increase is
explained by the returns to characteristics, mostly related
to student age. However, the authors find that the adequate
supply of teachers also plays a role in test score changes. |
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