Is Education prejudiced by Country-Risk? A Panel-Data Study using Attainment Data and Country-Risk as a Rational Expectation

We consider country-risk as a determinant of education growth in a large cross-section of countries observed through time. Applying cross-country dynamic panel data estimations, we show that country-risk influences the education output growth negatively. This contributes to the literature on the educational production function, as it adds a robust determinant of that function. Among country-risks, economic risk is the most influential and among economic risks, economic growth, socioeconomic conditions and, mostly surprising, budget balance have the highest effects. This is a very robust empirical result and indicates that politicians should endeavor to decrease country-risk in order to enhance education.