Prashant's research focuses on examining/addressing inequalities in the education of youth and on understanding/improving the quality of education received by youth in a number of countries including China, India, Russia, and the United States. In the course of addressing educational inequalities, Prashant examines the consequences of tracking, financial and informational constraints, as well as social and psychological factors in highly competitive education systems. His work on understanding educational quality is built around research that assesses and compares student learning in higher education, high school and compulsory schooling. He furthermore conducts large-scale evaluations of educational programs and policies that seek to improve student outcomes.

Recent Publications

Loyalka, P., et al. (2019). “Computer Science Skills across China, India, Russia, and the United States”
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Loyalka, P., Popova, A., Li, G.R., Shi, Z.L. Forthcoming. “Does Teacher Training Actually Work? Evidence from a Large-Scale Randomized Evaluation of a National Teacher Training Program.” American Economic Journal: Applied Economics.

Loyalka, P., Sylvia, S., Liu, C.F., Chu, J., Shi, Y.J. Forthcoming. “Pay by Design: Teacher Performance Pay Design and the Distribution of Student Achievement.” Journal of Labor Economics.

Li, H.B., Loyalka, P., Rozelle, S., Wu, B.Z. (2017). “Human Capital and China’s Future Growth” Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(1): 25-48.

Wang, H., Chu, J., Loyalka, P., Xin, T., Shi, Y.J., Qu, Q.H., Yang, C. (2016). “Can Social Emotional Learning Programs Reduce School Dropout in Developing Countries?” Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 35(4): 818-847.

Carnoy, M., Khavenson, T., Loyalka, P., Schmidt, W., Zakharov, A. (2016). “Revisiting the
Relationship between International Assessment Outcomes and Educational Production: Evidence from a Longitudinal PISA-TIMSS Sample.” American Education Research Journal.

Loyalka, P., Huang, X.T., Zhang, L.X., Wei, J.G., Yi, H.M., Song, Y.Q., Yao, S.J., Chu, J. (2015). “The Impact of Vocational Schooling on Human Capital Development in Developing Countries: Evidence from China.” World Bank Economic Review, 30(1): 143-170.

Zhou, C.C., Sylvia, S., Zhang, L.X., Luo, R.F., Yi, H.M., Liu, C.F., Shi, Y.J., Loyalka, P., Chu, J., Medina, A. and Rozelle, S. (2015). “China’s Left-Behind Children: Impact of Parental Migration on Health, Nutrition, And Educational Outcomes.” Health Affairs 34(11): 1964-1971.

Yi, H.M., Song, Y.Q., Liu C.F., Huang, X.T., Zhang, L.X., Yao, S.J, Bai, Y.L., Yang, C., Wang, H., Loyalka, P., Chu, J., Rozelle, S. (2015). “Giving Kids a Head Start: The Impact of Early Commitment of Financial Aid on Poor Junior High School Students in Rural China” Journal of Development Economics, 113(3): 1-15.

Loyalka, P., Liu, L., Chen, G., Zheng X.Y. (2014). “The Cost of Disability in China.” Demography, 51(1): 97-118.