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This study provides an evaluation of the impact of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme introduced in 2006 to 200 public schools in Ecuador. Using a combination of different methodologies in order to have a credible identification strategy, we find that the International Baccalaureate Diploma has a positive impact on academic achievements as well as on secondary school progression.

This paper analyses the impact of two interventions on women's empowerment in Ecuador using an experimental design. Women's empowerment is operationalized by using two metrics: first, the participation of women in the decision process at household level and, second, the disagreements between men and women in the decision process. We find negative effects of both interventions on women's participation on the decision‐making process at household level. However, we do find positive effects on disagreements regarding women's work and use of contraceptives, as well as positive effects of vouchers on disagreements on large food purchases and large assets purchases. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Este libro ofrece un profundo análisis comparado de la política educativa en Sudamérica. Con un soporte teórico integral y una metodología rigurosa, los autores reconstruyen diez casos de estudio a lo largo de las primeras dos décadas de este siglo a partir de las siguientes preguntas: ¿qué avances y retrocesos han registrado las políticas educativas en Sudamérica a partir del 2000? ¿Cómo comprender esta dinámica? ¿Cómo impactó el cambio de ciclo político regional de inicios de siglo sobre la educación? ¿Qué gobiernos realizaron mayores avances en términos de calidad y equidad? ¿Qué recomendaciones de política educativa se desprenden de esta investigación? Los hallazgos empíricos corroboran de forma contundente el impacto de la Política –con mayúscula– que, en determinado contexto regional, puede configurar de modo trascendental resultados de policy específicos, particularmente en el ámbito educativo, tan necesitado de avances medulares y definitivos. Se comprueba en este trabajo que la Política importa a la hora de conseguir resultados educativos sobre todo de carácter social: incremento de la inversión educativa, expansión de derechos sociales, revalorización de la escuela pública, aumento de la matrícula educativa… También se hacen patentes los perennes desafíos que acompañan a tales logros, mostrando los nudos y las tensiones que aún requieren ser desatados para desarrollar en nuestra región servicios educativos de calidad y, sobre todo, humanos. Gloria del Castillo Alemán Directora general de FLACSO México