Can Public Rankings Improve School Performance?: Evidence from a Nationwide Reform in Tanzania

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Human Resources
Year: 2021
Volume: 56
Issue: 3

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

In 2013, Tanzania introduced “Big Results Now in Education” (BRN), a low-stakes accountability program that published both nationwide and within-district school rankings. Using data from the universe of school performance for 2011–2016, we identify the impacts of the reform using a difference-in-differences estimator that exploits the differential pressure exerted on schools at the bottom of their respective district rankings. We find that BRN improved learning outcomes for schools in the bottom two deciles of their districts. However, the program also led schools to strategically exclude students from the terminal year of primary school.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:uwp:jhriss:v:56:y:2021:i:3:p:655-685
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-26