Efficiency potential and efficiency variation in Norwegian lower secondary schools

The paper performs an efficiency analysis of lower secondary schools in Norway. The efficiency potential is calculated as 14%, based on a DEA analysis with grades in core subjects (adjusted for student characteristics and family background) as outputs. The analysis of the determinants of efficiency indicates that a high level of municipal revenue, a high degree of party fragmentation, and a high share of socialists in the local council are associated with low educational efficiency. The negative effects of the share of socialists and party fragmentation seem to reflect both higher resource use and lower student performance.