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Multi-dimensional skills, specialization, and oligopolistic competition in higher education

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  • Sarpça, Sinan

Abstract

This paper develops a differentiated products model of school competition that distinguishes among different dimensions that matter in the skill acquisition process. The model predicts that when identical schools compete for students, specialization may arise as a competition strategy. This serves rich students' education goals well. Poorer students, however, may attend schools with specializations that do not cater to their relative strengths. By doing so, these poorer students complement the weaknesses of the richer students through peer effects and receive financial aid in return. The empirical analysis provides strong support for the model's predictions about within-school implications of specialization.

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  • Sarpça, Sinan, 2010. "Multi-dimensional skills, specialization, and oligopolistic competition in higher education," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(9-10), pages 800-811, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:94:y:2010:i:9-10:p:800-811
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    Cited by:

    1. Alkan, Ahmet & Anbarci, Nejat & Sarpça, Sinan, 2012. "An exploration in school formation: Income vs. Ability," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 117(2), pages 500-504.
    2. Epple, Dennis & Romano, Richard & Sarpça, Sinan & Sieg, Holger, 2017. "A general equilibrium analysis of state and private colleges and access to higher education in the U.S," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 164-178.

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