Efficiency in the transformation of schooling into competences

Periodical
Bulletin of Economic Research
Volume
73
Year
2021
Issue number
2
Page range
252-275
Access date
March 23, 2023
Relates to study/studies
PIAAC Cycle 1

Efficiency in the transformation of schooling into competences

A cross-country analysis using PIAAC data

Abstract

This study (i) compares the competence levels of the adult population in a set of OECD countries; (ii) assesses the comparative efficiency with which the education system in each country transforms schooling into competences, distinguishing by educational level, and (iii) tracks the evolution of this efficiency by birth cohorts. Using PIAAC data, the paper applies standard parametric frontier techniques under two alternative specifications. The results obtained identify Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Japan as being the most efficient and Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, Ireland and Poland as the least efficient.