At the age of ten German pupils are given a secondary school track recommendation which largely determines the actual track choice. Track choice has major effects on the life course, mainly through labor market outcomes. Using data from the German PISA extension study, we analyze the effect of...

Die Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) zeigt, dass die Schulleistungen in Bundesländern mit zentralen Abschlussprüfungen deutlich besser sind als in den anderen Bundesländern. Schulabschlüsse der Sekundarstufe werden in Deutschland in Abhängigkeit vom Bundesland mit...

In this paper, we use data from the German PISA 2003 sample to study the effects of central exit examinations on student performance and student attitudes. Unlike earlier studies we use (i) a value-added measure to pin down the effect of central exit exams on learning in the last year before the...

Applying the theory of yardstick competition to the schooling system, we show that it is optimal to have central tests of student achievement and to engage in benchmarking because it raises the quality of teaching. This is true even if teachers’ pay (defined in monetary terms) is not...

In diesem Beitrag schätzen wir mit Daten des SOEP die Rendite beruflicher Weiterbildung "on the job" für westdeutsche Arbeitnehmer in den Jahren 1984-2000. Um der Möglichkeit einer nicht zufälligen Teilnahme an beruflicher Weiterbildung Rechnung zu tragen, verfolgen wir verschiedene...

At the age of ten German pupils are given a secondary school track recommendation which largely determines the actual track choice. Track choice has major effects on the life course, mainly through labor market outcomes. Using data from the German PISA extension study, we analyze the effect of...

Applying the theory of yardstick competition to the schooling system, we show that it is optimal to have central tests of student achievement and to engage in benchmarking because it raises the quality of teaching. This is true even if teachers’ pay (defined in monetary terms) is not...

In diesem Beitrag schätzen wir mit Daten des SOEP die Rendite beruflicher Weiterbildung "on the job" für westdeutsche Arbeitnehmer in den Jahren 1984-2000. Um der Möglichkeit einer nicht zufälligen Teilnahme an beruflicher Weiterbildung Rechnung zu tragen, verfolgen wir verschiedene...

In response to PISA, all German federal states but one have adopted central exit examinations (CEEs) at the end of all secondary school tracks. Theoretically, the advantages of CEEs are fairly undisputed. CEEs make teaching and learning output observable and comparable across schools, and...