This paper uses student-level Third International Mathematics andScience Study (TIMSS) data to analyze the determinants of schoolingquality for seven Eastern European transition countries by estimatingeducational production functions. The results show substantial effectsof student background on...

This paper describes the results of an evaluation of integration subsidies (Eingliederungszuschuss) and wage subsidies (Entgeltsicherung) for older employees in Germany. We examine if unemployed eligible to these subsidies get work earlier than in a situation without these instruments of active...

We estimate peer effects for fourth graders in six European countries. The identification relies on variation across classes within schools. We argue that classes within primary schools are formed roughly randomly with respect to family background. Similar to previous studies, we find sizeable...

The huge difference in the level and variance of student performance in the 2000 PISA study between Finland and Germany motivates this paper. It analyses why Finnish students performed so much better by estimating educational production functions for both countries. The difference in the reading...