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Expert Network on Economics and Sociology of Education and Training (ENESET)
  • Report

The economic benefits of improving educational achievement in the European Union: an update and extension

This report provides an analysis of the economic benefits of educational improvement for each of the EU countries. The analysis focuses on the relationship between educational achievement and the long-run growth of nations.

Details

Identification
ISBN: 978-92-76-09220-9, DOI: 10.2766/211582, Catalogue number: NC-01-19-647-EN-N
Publication date
8 November 2019
Authors
Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture | European Expert Network on Economics of Education (EENEE)
Geographical scope
  • European Union
Thematic areas covered
  • Investment in education, economic impact of education

Description

Few people doubt that education is valuable for individuals and that a well-educated society benefits each country. But many do not fully understand the magnitude of impact of high-quality education on economic wellbeing. 

This report provides an analysis of the economic benefits of educational improvement for each of the EU countries. The analysis focuses on the relationship between educational achievement (as measured by scores on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)) and the long-run growth of nations. 

Prior research shows that test scores serve as a good proxy for the skills of a nation’s workforce and that three-quarters of the variation in long-run growth rates across countries can be attributed to these quantitative measures of educational outcomes.

Authors

Eric A. Hanushek and Ludger Woessmann

Cite as

European Commission: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Expert Network on Economics of Education (EENEE), Hanushek, E. A. and Woessmann, L., The economic benefits of improving educational achievement in the European Union – An update and extension, Publications Office, 2019, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2766/211582

Files

  • 8 NOVEMBER 2019
The economic benefits of improving educational achievement in the European Union - Analytical report
  • 8 NOVEMBER 2019
The economic benefits of improving educational achievement in the European Union - Executive summary
  • 8 NOVEMBER 2019
The economic benefits of improving educational achievement in the European Union - Policy brief