Applied efficiency analysis in education

Performance in the education sector is of interest in terms of its share of private and public expenditures as well as its key policy relevance through its links to human capital, growth and innovation. Measuring efficiency in services in general and education in particular is challenging. Luckily there are recently developed empirical models-specifically what we call frontier modelswhich can address some of these challenges. Here we focus on some of the modeling and measurement choices that are important for those seeking to apply frontier efficiency methods to the educational arena. Included is a discussion of available data choices for the practitioner.