Douglas Staiger

Douglas Staiger is widely recognized for his empirical research on measuring teacher effectiveness, particularly through value-added models that attempt to isolate a teacher's contribution to student achievement. His work in labor economics and the economics of education has influenced education policy debates in the United States. He has published influential studies on how statistical methods can be used to evaluate teacher performance.

Douglas Staiger is a professor at Dartmouth College. His research spans labor economics, health economics, and the economics of education. He has also been affiliated with the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), where much of his empirical work has been circulated as working papers.

Staiger's research demonstrated that value-added estimates of teacher effectiveness can vary significantly depending on the statistical methods and data used, raising questions about the reliability of high-stakes teacher evaluations based solely on test scores. His work highlighted both the potential and the limitations of using student test score data to measure teacher quality. These findings have been widely cited in debates over education accountability policies.

Yes, Staiger has also contributed to health economics, including widely cited research on healthcare labor markets and the physician workforce. His early career work included influential studies on the economics of medical training and doctor supply in the United States. This cross-disciplinary output has made him a well-known figure in both education and health policy circles.