Educational Production Functions

Abstract

This research examines scholastic performance within the context of an individual’s production function. A constant partial elasticity of substitution production function for academic achievement is presented and estimated with non linear maximum likelihood methods. We find that ability and time devoted to various aspects of the learning process are the most important determinants of students’ accomplishments. Our results underscore the potential for students to compensate for relatively “poor” educational backgrounds by spending more time on study and class attendance.