Please visit my website for more information: http://www.comparative-education.com/. To cite this presentation, please use the following: Wiseman, A. W. (2011, March). The Economic Impact of the Achievement Gap in Saudi Arabia. Paper presented at the International Exhibition and Forum for Public Education, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

1. The Economic Impact of the
Achievement Gap in Saudi Arabia
Alexander W. Wiseman, PhD

3. The Economic Impact of Education
Education develops human capital
Human capital = attainment + performance
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu
Attainment + performance = productivity
Higher productivity = economic advantage
___
Card, D. (2000). Estimating the Return to Schooling: Progress on Some Persistent Econometric Problems. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research.
Fasano, U., &Goyal, R. (2004). Emerging Strains in GCC Labor Markets. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund.
Ramirez, F. O., Luo, X., Schofer, E., & Meyer, J. W. (2006). Student Achievement and National Economic Growth. American Journal of Education, 113(1), 1-30.

4. Cognitive Skills Matter
Improved New
Cognitive Knowledge
Skills Technologies
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu
Increased Innovative
Economic Economic
Growth Capacity
___
Hanushek, E. A., &Woessmann, L. (2010). The Economics of International Differences in Educational Achievement. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research.
Jamison, E. A., Jamison, D. T., &Hanushek, E. A. (2007). The Effects of Education Quality on Income Growth and Mortality Decline. Economics of Education Review, 26, 772-789.

5. Economic Implications
If national economic health is measured by
student achievement (i.e., cognitive skill), then
Saudi Arabia is economically unhealthy.
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

6. EXHIBIT 1: Saudi Arabia Behind in Mathematics Education
TIMSS rankings show Saudi Arabia trailing other countries worldwide and in
Gulf Cooperation Council in mathematics achievement
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

7. EXHIBIT 2: Saudi Arabia Behind in Science Education
TIMSS rankings show Saudi Arabia trailing other countries worldwide and in
Gulf Cooperation Council in science achievement
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

8. Overwhelmingly Underperforming
Given the relatively low levels of economically
disadvantaged students in Saudi Arabia, Saudi
students are overwhelmingly underperforming.
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

9. EXHIBIT 3: QUALITY AND DISADVANTAGE IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
31 countries have higher average math scores in spite of having more
economically-disadvantaged students than Saudi Arabia
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

10. EXHIBIT 4: QUALITY AND DISADVANTAGE IN SCIENCE EDUCATION
31 countries have higher average science scores in spite of having more
economically-disadvantaged students than Saudi Arabia
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

11. Erasing SES Advantages
Otherwise economically advantaged students
perform on par with the most economically
disadvantaged because resource shortages
affect instruction at school.
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

12. EXHIBIT 5: QUALITY AND EQUITY OF MATHEMATICS INSTRUCTION
36 countries have higher average math scores and better resources for math
instruction at school than Saudi Arabia
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

13. EXHIBIT 6: QUALITY AND EQUITY OF SCIENCE INSTRUCTION
33 countries have higher average science scores and better resources for
science instruction at school than Saudi Arabia
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

14. Cost-Effectiveness Sacrificed
A Saudi education is among the least cost-
effective in the world. Most countries with high
average math and science scores spend less per
pupil than Saudi Arabia.
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

15. EXHIBIT 7: COST EFFECTIVENESS OF MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
37 countries have higher average mathematics scores and lower per pupil
expenditures than Saudi Arabia
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

16. EXHIBIT 8: COST EFFECTIVENESS OF SCIENCE EDUCATION
38 countries have higher average science scores and lower per pupil
expenditures than Saudi Arabia
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

17. Maximize Impact
Saudi Arabia needs to maximize educational
impacts on cognitive skill development without
increasing the costs of education.
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

18. EXHIBIT 9: PER PUPIL SPENDING COST EFFECTIVENESS (MATHEMATICS)
Saudi Arabia spends an average amount compared to other countries
worldwide per point on the TIMSS mathematics test ($9.01/point)
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

19. EXHIBIT 10: PER PUPIL SPENDING COST EFFECTIVENESS (SCIENCE)
Saudi Arabia spends an average amount compared to other countries
worldwide per point on the TIMSS science test ($8.35/point)
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

20. Potential for Economic Growth
Saudi students score more frequently and with
more variation at the lowest levels in both math
and science, but Saudi Gross Domestic Product
(GDP, per capita) could double if students
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu
performed at the highest levels.
The question is whether or not this is the appropriate causal direction of effect.
Potential change in GDP by student performance is estimated in the following
analyses.

21. EXHIBIT 11: DISTRIBUTION OF MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT
Saudi Arabian students scored more frequently and with more variation at the
lowest international benchmarks in mathematics
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

22. EXHIBIT 12: DISTRIBUTION OF SCIENCE ACHIEVEMENT
Saudi Arabian students scored more frequently and with more variation at the
lowest international benchmarks in science
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

23. EXHIBIT 13: GDP POTENTIAL BY MATHEMATICS BENCHMARK AVERAGE
The Saudi Arabian GDP could potentially double if all students performed at
the highest levels demonstrated for mathematics achievement
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

24. EXHIBIT 14: GDP POTENTIAL BY SCIENCE BENCHMARK AVERAGE
The Saudi Arabian GDP could potentially double if all students performed at
the highest levels demonstrated for science achievement
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

25. Sustainability is Key
Even if Saudi students perform at the highest
level, it will take more than a one-time increase
in cognitive skills to match GCC average GDP.
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

26. EXHIBIT 15: GDP DIFFERENCE BY MATHEMATICS BENCHMARK AVERAGE
Increased mathematics performance could potentially raise Saudi Arabian
GDP, but will still lag relative to the Gulf Cooperation Council average.
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

27. EXHIBIT 16: GDP DIFFERENCE BY SCIENCE BENCHMARK AVERAGE
Increased science performance could potentially raise Saudi Arabian GDP, but
will still lag relative to the Gulf Cooperation Council average.
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

28. Economic Growth is Cumulative
GDP growth is cumulative. The higher Saudi
cognitive skill levels become, the higher GDP and
the lower average skills required to meet and
exceed the GCC average.
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu

29. Weaknesses
Saudi students among the lowest performing in the world.
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu
Saudi students perform at levels indicative of extreme
disadvantage.
Saudi education is not cost-effective.

30. Strengths
Saudi students – on average – have SES on their side.
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu
Saudi schools are funded at levels comparable to the highest
achieving countries in the world.
Small increases can quickly add up because the cumulative
effect of cognitive skill improvement on economic productivity.

31. Final Thoughts
Education, achievement and economic
productivity are linked in a knowledge
economy.
Alexander W. Wiseman, Lehigh University, aww207@lehigh.edu
Evidence suggests that Saudi Arabia’s
economy is in danger and will decline
unless cognitive skills improve.
Saudi students and educators have the
potential to reverse these trends.

32. Alexander W. Wiseman, PhD
aww207@lehigh.edu