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The short- and long-term effects of school choice on student outcomes – evidence from a school choice reform in Sweden

Author

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  • Wondratschek, Verena

    (Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW))

  • Edmark, Karin

    (Research Institute of Industrial Economics)

  • Frölich, Markus

    (University of Mannheim)

Abstract

This paper evaluates the effects of a major Swedish school choice reform. The reform in 1992 increased school choice and competition among public schools as well as through a large-scale introduction of private schools. We estimate the effects of school choice and competition, using precise geographical information on the locations of school buildings and children’s homes for the entire Swedish population for several cohorts affected at different stages in their educational career. We can measure the long-term effects up to age 25. We find that increased school choice had very small, but positive, effects on marks at the end of compulsory schooling, but virtually zero effects on longer term outcomes such as university education, employment, criminal activity and health.

Suggested Citation

  • Wondratschek, Verena & Edmark, Karin & Frölich, Markus, 2013. "The short- and long-term effects of school choice on student outcomes – evidence from a school choice reform in Sweden," Working Paper Series 2013:20, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:ifauwp:2013_020
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    Cited by:

    1. Edmark, Karin & Frölich, Markus & Wondratschek, Verena, 2014. "Sweden's school choice reform and equality of opportunity," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 129-142.
    2. Garrouste, Manon & Zaiem, Meryam, 2020. "School supply constraints in track choices: A French study using high school openings," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    3. Sebhatu, Abiel & Wennberg, Karl & Lakomaa, Erik & Brandén, Maria, 2020. "Work Environment and Competition in Swedish Schools, 1999-2011," Ratio Working Papers 330, The Ratio Institute.
    4. Anders Böhlmark & Helena Holmlund & Mikael Lindahl, 2016. "Parental choice, neighbourhood segregation or cream skimming? An analysis of school segregation after a generalized choice reform," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 29(4), pages 1155-1190, October.
    5. Dennis Epple & Richard E. Romano & Miguel Urquiola, 2017. "School Vouchers: A Survey of the Economics Literature," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 55(2), pages 441-492, June.
    6. Taghizadeh, Jonas Larsson, 2020. "Effects of school closures on displaced students and future cohorts," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    7. Christophe André & Jon Pareliussen & Hyunjeong Hwang, 2020. "Swedish School Results, Student Background, Competition and Efficiency," Voprosy obrazovaniya / Educational Studies Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics, issue 3, pages 8-36.
    8. Андре К. & Парелиуссен Й. & Хван Х., 2020. "Шведские Школы: Результаты Работы, Социальное Происхождение Учащихся, Конкуренция И Эффективность (Пер. С Англ.)," Вопросы образования // Educational Studies Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics, issue 3, pages 8-36.
    9. Sebhatu, Abiel & Wennberg, Karl & Lakomaa, Erik & Brandén, Maria, 2021. "More Schools, Less Trouble? Competition and Schools’ Work Environment, Sweden 1999–2011," Working Papers 21/1, Stockholm School of Economics, Center for Educational Leadership and Excellence.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    School choice; school competition; treatment evaluation; cognitive and non-cognitive skills;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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