Woodfield, A. & Gunby, P., (2003)

‘The marketisation of New Zealand schools: assessing Fiske & Ladd.’

Journal of Economic Literature XLI, pp. 863-884

• Reconsiders Fiske & Ladd's interpretation of the evidence regarding the New Zealand reforms.
• The authors agree with Fiske & Ladd that the predicted benefits of the reforms were overstated, and in key details wrong, with policy changes resulting in losers as well as winners.
• They also note the dangers involved in freeing up the demand side without allowing the supply side the freedom to expand successful schools and close unsuccessful ones.
• Moreover, because New Zealand lacked a standardised test system for measuring student achievement, an empirical vacuum was created which allowed special interest groups to declare ‘success’ or ‘failure’ without fear of contradiction.