Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Abolghasem Naderi Author-X-Name-First: Abolghasem Author-X-Name-Last: Naderi Title: Data envelopment analysis of the efficiency of academic departments at a public university in Iran Abstract: This paper examines the performance efficiency of 77 academic departments at a public university in Iran using data envelopment analysis (DEA), which applies a multiple input and output variables approach. To conduct reasonable analyses, four types of academic staff accompanied with salary paid were used as the input measures and two indexed measures of output which include students taught and research performance. Using various DEA models, we obtained different estimates for efficiency scores which show that the type of model used affects the efficiency scores. We also found that average efficiency is relatively high and about one half of all academic departments at the university, based on the results of input-oriented variable return to scale models, perform efficiently. The results of the DEA models employed also illustrate the existence of scale inefficiencies and the relatively large heterogeneity among the departments. However, we did not find sufficient evidence supporting efficiency heterogeneity across different fields of study (i.e., humanities and social sciences against sciences and engineering). The determinants of departmental efficiency were also examined. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 57-75 Issue: 1 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: data envelopment analysis; DEA; efficiency evaluation; scale effects; Iranian academic departments; education and research performance; Iran. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97128 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:1:p:57-75 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Muhammed Adekunle Yusuf Author-X-Name-First: Muhammed Adekunle Author-X-Name-Last: Yusuf Title: ECOWAS agenda and regional integration development in West Africa: any role for all-inclusive education? Abstract: The new global development agenda, the sustainable development goals (SDGs), accord critical roles to regional integration as part of the major springboards that can enhance rapid development outcomes, especially in the developing world. Given the ambitious nature of the new world development order, collaborations that leverage on local knowledge remain germane to the realisation of SDG targets. In this regard, the study provides a concise critical appraisal on the extent to which ECOWAS has been able to foster effective and deeper integration in West Africa. Based on selected review of appropriate literature, the study assesses the degree to which the organisation has been able to achieve its agenda, focusing on the successes and challenges recorded, as well as political commitments to the regional body. Of particular importance is the extent to which ECOWAS takes cognisance of the need to re-shape its agenda towards fostering an all-inclusive education in the region. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 76-93 Issue: 1 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: regional integration; economic development; ECOWAS; inclusive education; inclusive development. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97129 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:1:p:76-93 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Hongxing Yao Author-X-Name-First: Hongxing Author-X-Name-Last: Yao Author-Name: Evans Takyi Ankomah-Asare Author-X-Name-First: Evans Takyi Author-X-Name-Last: Ankomah-Asare Author-Name: Eyram Kojo Schwinger Author-X-Name-First: Eyram Kojo Author-X-Name-Last: Schwinger Author-Name: Worlanyo Savior Akuamoah Author-X-Name-First: Worlanyo Savior Author-X-Name-Last: Akuamoah Author-Name: Alex Boadi Dankyi Author-X-Name-First: Alex Boadi Author-X-Name-Last: Dankyi Title: A complex network analysis of sustainable research partnerships; evidence from a developing country Abstract: The discrete and continuous probability of co-author network sustainability was assessed based on modified Bass-SIR innovation diffusion models. The implications of industry and government funding of research partnership was empirically tested, using data from a specialised research institute. We conclude that development and sustainability of research partnerships is critically dependent on the formation of co-author research networks and their influence on author successes. Thus when research centres fail to maintain co-author networks and authoring rates, the research institutions that authors belong to will eventually become unproductive and likely to suffer partnership attrition. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 94-114 Issue: 1 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: discrete SIR; continuous SIR; Bass-SIR; co-author networks; sustainability; triple helix; research partnerships. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97131 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:1:p:94-114 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Yongseung Han Author-X-Name-First: Yongseung Author-X-Name-Last: Han Author-Name: Michael P. Ryan Author-X-Name-First: Michael P. Author-X-Name-Last: Ryan Author-Name: Kelly Manley Author-X-Name-First: Kelly Author-X-Name-Last: Manley Title: Online course enrolment and tuition: empirical evidence from public colleges in Georgia, USA Abstract: In the USA, higher education has witnessed substantial increases in tuition levels and online course offerings. In an effort to estimate the demand for online courses, this study collected institutional-level enrolment data during four academic years (2010-2011 through 2013-2014) from 22 colleges within the University System of Georgia (USG). The results indicate that: 1) the demand for online courses is price-elastic (a 10% increase in online tuition rates reduces online credit hours by 15-18% when the effect of traditional course tuition rate is not controlled, and by 30-36% when this effect is controlled); 2) online credit hours increase 1.0 to 1.3 times more than overall student enrolment; 3) online courses and traditional courses are shown to be substitutes, rather than complements. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 1-21 Issue: 1 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: online course; enrolment; tuition; higher education; financial aid; demand; elasticity; marketing; USA. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97132 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:1:p:1-21 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Eman Ali Zaitoun Author-X-Name-First: Eman Ali Author-X-Name-Last: Zaitoun Author-Name: Ziyad Kamel Ellala Author-X-Name-First: Ziyad Kamel Author-X-Name-Last: Ellala Title: Behavioural characteristics of gifted students in Grades 6-9 in Al Ain City Abstract: The study identifies the behavioural characteristics of gifted students in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Using Renzulli's scales for rating the behavioural characteristics of superior students (SRBCSS), data were collected of 192 male and female students from Grades 6 to 9 employing a descriptive analytical approach. One-way ANOVA and Scheffe tests for post hoc comparisons were used to analyse the data. The results indicate that the highest distinguished characteristics of the students are planning, learning, communication-accuracy and motivation. The results also showed that gender was statistically significant in favour of males in all characteristics, except communication-expression. Moreover, the results showed that grade was statistically significant in favour of the eighth grade in all scales, except for motivation, musical, mathematical and scientific characteristics, which were in favour of the sixth grade and only one scale in favour of the ninth grade, i.e., creativity characteristics. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 36-56 Issue: 1 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: gifted; talented; students; behavioural characteristics; SRBCSS; teacher rating scales; public schools; private schools; United Arab Emirates. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97133 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:1:p:36-56 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Eko Sugiyanto Author-X-Name-First: Eko Author-X-Name-Last: Sugiyanto Author-Name: Kumba Digdowiseiso Author-X-Name-First: Kumba Author-X-Name-Last: Digdowiseiso Title: Do incidence and duration of child labour matter on schooling in Indonesia? Abstract: This study attempts to investigate the effect of incidence and duration of child labour on schooling using the 2016 Indonesia's National Labour Force Survey (SAKERNAS). The study uses instrumental variable (IV) technique where access to clean water, good sanitation and access to electricity serve as instruments. The finding suggests that the incidence of child labour is negatively and significantly correlated with enrolment, while there is no effect of duration on schooling. In addition, schooling is significantly influenced by sex, some income and household characteristics and area. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 22-35 Issue: 1 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: child labour; incidence; duration; schooling; Indonesia. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97134 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:1:p:22-35 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ibrahim Niankara Author-X-Name-First: Ibrahim Author-X-Name-Last: Niankara Author-Name: Rachidatou Ingrid Traoret Author-X-Name-First: Rachidatou Ingrid Author-X-Name-Last: Traoret Title: Formal education and the contemporaneous dynamics of literacy, labour market participation and poverty reduction in Burkina Faso Abstract: This research examines the link between education and sustainable development in Burkina Faso. We achieve this using data on 10,411 households from the 2014 National Survey on Household Living Conditions, and a statistical methodology based on fully parametric and semi-parametric recursive trivariate probit modelling. The results show that our embraced systemic approach is economically and statistically significant as shown by the 95% confidence intervals on the three correlation coefficients in the model. Furthermore, education is found to raise literacy skills by a factor of 2.233 for primary and 3.877 for secondary education. However, an improvement in literacy skills paradoxically reduces (&minus;0.682) the likelihood of active labour market participation. Simultaneously however, active labour market participation is found to reduce (&minus;1.384) the incidence of households' poverty. Therefore, to boost productivity, reduce poverty and achieve sustained economic growth, in addition to new industrial policies for structural transformation of the national economy, policy makers in Burkina Faso should consider education and minimum wage reforms to incentivise high skilled labour force participation in the local labour market. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 148-172 Issue: 2 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: formal education; labour market participation; literacy; poverty; SGDs; trivariate probit; Burkina Faso. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=98679 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:2:p:148-172 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: R.J. Botha Author-X-Name-First: R.J. Author-X-Name-Last: Botha Title: A study among newly appointed principals in South African schools Abstract: The important role played by principals in ensuring effective management and strategic leadership in schools has long been the subject of intense debate. Crucial to this debate are the contextual development and support opportunities available to newly appointed principals. Although many such opportunities do exist, they are simply not sufficient to ensure sustainable school improvement. This article, based on a quantitative empirical study carried out in the Gauteng province of South Africa, aims to contribute to the discussion on the school principalship and the changes and improvements taking place at schools. The article concludes with empirical findings on the perceived developmental needs of newly appointed principals in Gauteng and goes on to suggest that this unique and specialised profession requires specific and appropriate preparation. The recommendations arising from the study concerning policy and practice emphasise the importance of appropriate and sustainable development and support initiatives for newly appointed school principals, not only in South Africa, but also world-wide. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 173-190 Issue: 2 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: Gauteng province; newly appointed school principals; support; schools; the school principalship; school improvement; South Africa. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=98680 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:2:p:173-190 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ivo Bischoff Author-X-Name-First: Ivo Author-X-Name-Last: Bischoff Author-Name: Ferry Prasetyia Author-X-Name-First: Ferry Author-X-Name-Last: Prasetyia Title: Determinants of local public expenditures on education: empirical evidence on Indonesian municipalities between 2005 and 2012 Abstract: We provide an empirical analysis of the factors that drive expenditures on primary and secondary education in Indonesian municipalities. We use a panel dataset covering 427 municipalities between 2005 and 2012. We account for the impact of socio-economic, political and geographical factors on expenditures per pupil and on the share of the overall budget spent on education. Landlocked municipalities and municipalities with a low net enrolment rate to start with are found to spend less on education. In line with studies from other countries, we find educational expenditures to rise in the municipalities' fiscal capacity. The characteristics of the local municipal council are found to influence educational expenditures in coastal municipalities with expenditures increasing in the share of the Golkar Party (Suharto's former party in the authoritarian era) and decreasing in the degree of political fragmentation. Applying spatial econometrics to a subsample of four islands, we find municipalities' educational expenditures to be positively correlated with those in neighbouring municipalities. This suggests that municipalities compete for families by offering attractive schools. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 115-147 Issue: 2 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: local government; educational expenditures; determinants; spatial econometrics; Indonesia. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=98683 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:2:p:115-147 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mihail Diakomihalis Author-X-Name-First: Mihail Author-X-Name-Last: Diakomihalis Author-Name: Paraskevi Kosma Author-X-Name-First: Paraskevi Author-X-Name-Last: Kosma Title: Differences in selection criteria between universities and TEI undergraduate departments Abstract: The choice of a department in a University or Technological Educational Institute (T.E.I. or TEI) by prospective students for their undergraduate studies is influenced by various factors. The gravity of these factors, which we identify as criteria, will determine the department of an educational institution for tertiary level studies selected by the potential student. These criteria can be described as academic, personal, or economic, as well as based on the information the student has about the institution, along with the direct and wider environment, e.g., of the city, where the department is located. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate how much the defined criteria and sub-criteria affect the choice of a department for tertiary level studies. The results confirm that the ranking of students' selection criteria is different in the various examined groups. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 191-211 Issue: 2 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: analytic hierarchy process; AHP; decision making process; university/college choices; higher education; medical; nursing; pedagogy; preschool; Greece. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=98685 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:2:p:191-211 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Bouzouita Author-X-Name-First: A. Author-X-Name-Last: Bouzouita Title: Evaluating the efficiency of higher education institutions in Tunisia Abstract: Due to the increase in students' number and the emergence of new activities, the efficiency of higher education institutions (HEIs) in Tunisia is receiving increasing attention in the academic as well as in the public discourse. In this paper, data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to analyse the relative efficiency of 62 Tunisian HEIs for the academic year 2010-2011. The total number of HEIs was divided into two subsets - experimental group composed of 30 institutions and non-experimental group containing 32 - in order to minimise heterogeneity in the sample. The findings show that the technical and scale efficiency in the HEIs sample appear to be high on average. There were also small slacks in input utilisation. Also, more HEIs were operating at decreasing returns to scale, indicating a potential to downsize. DEA identifies the reference groups for inefficient institutions and indicates the direction of desirable productivity improvements. As such, the results obtained by DEA can serve as a benchmarking instrument for the leaders of the university system and contribute in more efficient allocation of scarce resources. Policy makers could distribute a share of budget according to institution performance and creating an atmosphere of competition in the Tunisian higher education system. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 212-233 Issue: 2 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: data envelopment analysis; DEA; higher education institutions; HEIs; technical efficiency; scale efficiency; Tunisia. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=98687 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:2:p:212-233 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mariana Planells Gutiérrez Author-X-Name-First: Mariana Planells Author-X-Name-Last: Gutiérrez Author-Name: Simone Bernardes Voese Author-X-Name-First: Simone Bernardes Author-X-Name-Last: Voese Author-Name: Cicero Aparecido Bezerra Author-X-Name-First: Cicero Aparecido Author-X-Name-Last: Bezerra Author-Name: Marcia Maria Dos Santos Bortolocci Espejo Author-X-Name-First: Marcia Maria Dos Santos Bortolocci Author-X-Name-Last: Espejo Title: Education costs in Brazil: analysis of macroeconomic variables Abstract: This article is meant to analyse the key macroeconomic variables that affect higher education costs in Brazil and to provide an overview of the present status of education in that country. Quantitative indicators regarding population, education, employment and economy, provided by public database bodies such as MEC, IBGE, OECD and WEF were used. Statistical tools, such as principal component analysis, simple regression and clusters analysis, were carried out. Results indicate a strong relationship between the number of public higher education institutions (HEI) and number of people who attend them. As a result of the main components analysis, 15 variables were reduced to three principal components that explain 89.109% of the total variance. Finally, as a result of the cluster analysis, four different clusters can be verified, with divergent situations identified between the four aggrupation of Brazilian states. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 235-257 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: education costs; higher education institutions; HEI; human capital theory; endogenous growth theory. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=100660 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:3:p:235-257 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Van-Quy Le Author-X-Name-First: Van-Quy Author-X-Name-Last: Le Author-Name: Vinh-Long Tran-Chi Author-X-Name-First: Vinh-Long Author-X-Name-Last: Tran-Chi Title: Structural equation modelling analysis for internship satisfaction of Vietnam business students Abstract: Business internship is helpful for students' learning and career preparation. However, there is no report using structural equation modelling to analyse the relationship between the internship satisfaction and the students' learning in Vietnam. Business students (male: 222, female: 74) were sampled from University of Finance and Marketing. Forty-three question items were drawn from ten popular questionnaires. However, four of the factors are not significantly related to the internship satisfaction including university support, academic supervisor, student's knowledge, and student's attitude; two of the factors are significantly related to the internship satisfaction including student's skills and host company's support. This result suggests that students with good learning skills expect higher level of training program from the competitive company. It also suggests that characteristics of the host company's support are good predictors of internship satisfaction. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 258-275 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: business education; internship satisfaction; IS; students; Vietnam. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=100665 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:3:p:258-275 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Amritkant Mishra Author-X-Name-First: Amritkant Author-X-Name-Last: Mishra Author-Name: Amba Agarwal Author-X-Name-First: Amba Author-X-Name-Last: Agarwal Title: How does economic expansion react to educational expenditure, financial development, and financial integration? A nonlinear Granger causality and quantile regression analysis in an Asian perspective Abstract: This empirical analysis aspires to adequately investigate the causal effect of financial integration, educational expenditure and financial development on economic growth, by exerting the nonlinear Granger-causality approach. On another hand, it additionally strives to uncover the heterogeneous effect of financial integration, academic expenditure and financial development on the economic growth of nine pertinent Asian economies by employing quantile regression techniques. The consequence of nonlinear Granger causality analysis demonstrates that the nonlinear causality exists from educational spending towards the economic growth in the countries such as Bangladesh, India, China, and Thailand. While on the other hand, no such causality found in civilised nations like Australia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. The empirical outcome also manifests that if monetary integration, financial development, and educational expenditure happen simultaneously then it leads to economic growth in Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand. Additionally the outcome of quantile regression documents that education sector outlay enhances the economic growth of underdeveloped or developing countries while it does not demonstrate a significant impact on the economic growth of the highly developed nations. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 276-293 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: educational expenditure; financial development; economic growth; quantile regression; nonlinear causality. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=100667 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:3:p:276-293 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Anjan Ray Chaudhury Author-X-Name-First: Anjan Ray Author-X-Name-Last: Chaudhury Author-Name: Madhabendra Sinha Author-X-Name-First: Madhabendra Author-X-Name-Last: Sinha Title: Between-group inequality in education in India: a sequential logit model analysis Abstract: The study provides an insight into the between-group educational inequality India, where the groups are defined by taking caste and religion together. We propose an index of between-group inequality applicable to ordinal categorical data and compute the between-group educational inequality existing in Indian society and its overtime persistence. Findings reveal an overtime increase in between-group educational inequality in India. We invoke the sequential logit model of regression to assess the probability of transition from lower to higher levels of education. The results of estimation of this regression model reveal a declining trend in the rate of dropout across all levels of education for all groups, though the rate of decline is greater for the advantaged groups compared to the disadvantaged groups. This disparity in the rate of decline is the responsible factor for the rise in between-group educational inequality. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 294-322 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: between-group educational inequality; transition probability; India; sequential logit model; scheduled castes; Muslims. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=100669 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:3:p:294-322 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ernest Mbumbo Author-X-Name-First: Ernest Author-X-Name-Last: Mbumbo Author-Name: Henrie Benedict Author-X-Name-First: Henrie Author-X-Name-Last: Benedict Author-Name: Juan-Pierré Bruwer Author-X-Name-First: Juan-Pierré Author-X-Name-Last: Bruwer Title: The influence of management's accounting skills on the existence of their South African small, medium and micro enterprises Abstract: In South Africa (RSA), small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) provide assist government with the reduction of unemployment and poverty. Unfortunately, research shows that RSA SMMEs are not sustainable as 70% fail after being operating for three years. This phenomenon is caused by the non-management of economic factors, including a lack of skills. In a recent study, basic business skills evident in RSA SMMEs were found to leave much to be desired. One of these skills is that of accounting skills. Accounting skills should assist with making economic business decisions; taking into account the failure rate of RSA SMMEs, the question arises: Do the accounting skills of management influence the existence of RSA SMMEs? To answer this question, empirical research was conducted and data were collected from respondents. From the results, respondents who were equipped with accounting skills were more likely to remain in existence for the foreseeable future. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 323-334 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: management accounting; accounting skills; SMMEs; existence. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=100670 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:3:p:323-334 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Akira Shimada Author-X-Name-First: Akira Author-X-Name-Last: Shimada Title: The education policy challenge to the brain drain problem Abstract: In a world of increased mobility of students and workers, both developing and developed countries are attempting to prevent brain drain. This study's research question is how we can prevent it. Utilising an analytical method, this study finds that education subsidies may be implemented as a new policy option to do so. In particular, developed countries, which are faced with a small wage disparity with the destination country, can eliminate brain drain for any degree of human capital transferability by paying subsidies appropriately. However, developing countries, which are faced with a large wage disparity, cannot always alleviate brain drain. The significance of this policy lies in that education subsidies affect the choice of study location, which in turn induces individuals to work in their home countries. Moreover, education subsidies are more effective than a Bhagwati tax since individuals have less incentive to evade subsidies. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 335-355 Issue: 4 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: education policy; education subsidies; brain drain; Bhagwati tax; labour migration; student migration; human capital transferability; wage disparity; developed country; developing country. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102740 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:4:p:335-355 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Abdelghani Echchabi Author-X-Name-First: Abdelghani Author-X-Name-Last: Echchabi Author-Name: Salim Al-Hajri Author-X-Name-First: Salim Author-X-Name-Last: Al-Hajri Author-Name: Islam Nazier Tanas Author-X-Name-First: Islam Nazier Author-X-Name-Last: Tanas Title: Factors influencing Omani students' selection of higher education institutions: an emphasis on undergraduate and postgraduate students Abstract: The study aims at investigating the factors that influence students' selection of higher education institutions in Oman. For that purpose, a sample of 384 respondents was randomly selected from various Omani regions and universities. The study used mean values to rank the factors based on the students' responses following Friedman's test. In addition, factor analysis was also used to summarise these factors, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to investigate any differences in the selection factors across genders and education levels. The findings revealed that the main factors for university selection are the academic and financial benefits and advantages closely followed by the quality and reputation of the universities. In addition, the findings revealed that there is a significant difference across education levels with regard to the perception of academic quality, accommodation, as well as reference to website advertisements. These findings have significant contributions to the Omani universities, as well universities in similar contexts. Particularly, it provides the universities with insights on the main dimensions and characteristics to emphasise in order to enhance their overall performance. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 356-370 Issue: 4 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: Oman; university reputation; academic quality; selection criteria; education marketing; academic advising; university tuition fees. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102741 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:4:p:356-370 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Muktar Bala Author-X-Name-First: Muktar Author-X-Name-Last: Bala Author-Name: Mohd Razani B. Mohd Jali Author-X-Name-First: Mohd Razani B. Mohd Author-X-Name-Last: Jali Author-Name: Nor Azam Abdul Razak Author-X-Name-First: Nor Azam Abdul Author-X-Name-Last: Razak Title: Determinants of academic performance of left-behind children in rural Nigeria: quantile evidence from Niger State Abstract: Recently, scholars have expressed concern about the potential effects on academic performance when migrant parents leave their children behind, but little is known about the determinants of the academic performance of these children. Using survey data from Niger State, Nigeria (N = 1,140), and applying quantile regression, this study shows that the quality of parental involvement that left-behind children (LBC) receive in the absence of parents, their physical and mental health, the type of school they attend and their birth order affect their academic performance. These effects are, however, specific to the children in the lower and upper tails of the performance distribution. Therefore, policies that ensure the proper care of the children and those policies that enhance school quality would promote the academic performance of the children, particularly if targeted at the children who are in the lower and upper quantiles of the performance distribution. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 371-397 Issue: 4 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: rural-urban migration; left-behind children; LBC; academic performance; quantile regression; parental involvement; physical health; mental health; birth order; Nigeria. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102746 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:4:p:371-397 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Snehal Bawre Author-X-Name-First: Snehal Author-X-Name-Last: Bawre Author-Name: Sujata Kar Author-X-Name-First: Sujata Author-X-Name-Last: Kar Title: An investigation of the demographic factors affecting financial literacy and its components among urban Indians Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of socio-demographic factors on financial literacy and its components, namely, financial behaviour, financial attitude and financial numeracy skills. Also, the relationships between the components of financial literacy and the influence of financial numeracy skill on investment pattern are examined. The data showed that financial literacy in terms of familiarity with financial instruments and participation in formal financial system is quite reasonable at 65% among the participants. Socio-demographic variables like gender, age, education, income, and reliability of income are found to have significant influence on financial literacy. Further, all the components of financial literacy are found to impact each other positively. The findings also suggest that financial numeracy skill may improve overall financial literacy and secondary market participation in India. However, the use of financial websites or social media sites for investment decisions is meagre. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 398-426 Issue: 4 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: financial literacy; financial behaviour; financial attitude; financial numeracy; multinomial logit model; socio-demographic factors; India. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102749 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:4:p:398-426 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Reham Rizk Author-X-Name-First: Reham Author-X-Name-Last: Rizk Title: Returns to education in MENA countries: a continuing story of under-achievement Abstract: The paper provides a comparative study of private rates of return to education in five MENA countries to better understand the pattern of rewards to different levels of schooling. Moreover, the paper attempts to link the structure of returns to education to labour market, gender and different age groups. The findings confirm less consistency among countries and this is due to differences in education quality and supply and demand of graduates, which has a significant influence on returns to schooling. Returns to additional years of schooling are the highest for Tunisia and lowest for Egypt. On analysing the rate of return to education by socio-economic factors: returns to education for women are lower than for men, and older cohorts have highest returns particularly for Egypt and Tunisia. With respect to policymakers, MENA region should adopt education policies that target <i>quality</i> of education, which meets labour demand rather than expansion of education. Journal: Int. J. of Education Economics and Development Pages: 427-448 Issue: 4 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: rate of return to education; gender; MENA countries; cross-section analysis. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102751 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeded:v:10:y:2019:i:4:p:427-448