Skip to main content
European Commission logo
Expert Network on Economics and Sociology of Education and Training (ENESET)

Relevant topics in current economics of education discussions

From class size to college fees, this report maps 32 key research areas that shape education policy across Europe, providing insights for more innovative and evidence-based reforms.

  • General publications

Details

Publication date
30 November 2016
Author
European Expert Network on Economics of Education (EENEE)
Geographical scope
  • European Union
Level of education focus
  • Early childhood education and care (ECEC)
  • Higher education
  • School education
  • Vocational education and training (VET)
Thematic areas covered
  • Digital education and technological innovation
  • Educational attainment and participation in education
  • Educational effectiveness and efficiency
  • Governance of education
  • International mobility
  • Learning for sustainability (learning for the green transition)
  • Monitoring and quality assurance
  • Quality and inclusive education for all
  • Skills development
  • Teachers and trainers
  • Whole-school and whole-system approaches and partnerships in education

Description

This report by Ludger Woessmann outlines 32 research topics grouped into six key areas in the economics of education. 

It covers institutional structures in schools (e.g., school autonomy, leadership, choice, exams), equity issues (e.g., migration, segregation, gender gaps), and instructional strategies (e.g., class size, ICT use, peer effects). It also addresses higher education (e.g., tuition fees, gender segmentation, returns to college), the education-labor market link (e.g., vocational training, school-to-work transitions, non-monetary benefits), and broader themes like early childhood education and demographic change. 

The document highlights existing evidence, gaps in research, and promising directions for future studies. Many topics stress the importance of context, such as how autonomy works best with accountability or how class size effects vary by student background. The report provides a roadmap for policymakers and researchers seeking to advance educational outcomes through evidence-based policy.

Author

Compiled from EENEE network members by Ludger Woessmann

Cite as

Ludger Woessmann (2016). 'Relevant Topics in Current Economics of Education Discussions', EENEE Ad hoc Report 5, 2016

 

 

Cover

Files

  • 30 NOVEMBER 2016
Relevant topics in current economics of education discussions