The aim of this article is to discuss the requirements of an Information
System (IS) for evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of public
intervention in the field of vocational training. The objective of this policy is
to increase employability and reduce disparities in access to the labour
market of EU-defined disadvantaged groups. The primary goal of the IS is to
aid decision making of policy makers and managers. In this context,
information asymmetry in the production of these services is a problem and
the standard approach of the International Organization for Standardization
can do little to promote quasi-market competition, which economists
suggest as a solution to information asymmetry. The article recommends
making a greater effort to develop an IS capable of assessing the
effectiveness of training programmes and making the necessary corrections
for selection bias with regard to the selection of the agencies managing the
training programmes. The adoption of the standard used by current labour-
force surveys is suggested.
