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The compelling effects of compulsory schooling: evidence from Canada

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  • Philip Oreopoulos

Abstract

. Compulsory school laws have existed for more than a hundred years, and policies to mandate further education continue to be discussed. The implications of these laws, however, are not well understood. Historical changes to compulsory schooling in Canada permit an examination of their effects on would‐be‐dropouts under very different circumstances than those during changes in other countries. Mandating education substantially increased adult income and substantially decreased the likelihood of being below the low‐income cut‐off unemployed, and in a manual occupation. These findings suggest significant gains from this legislation, which seem unlikely offset by the costs incurred while having to remain in school. JEL classification: I20, I28 Les effets incontournables de l’école obligatoire: résultats pour le Canada. Des lois sur l’école obligatoire existent depuis plus de cent ans et on continue à discuter la possibilité d’en allonger le mandat. Les impacts de ces lois ne sont cependant pas très bien compris. Des changements à cette législation à divers moments dans l’histoire au Canada permettent d’examiner les effets de ces lois sur le décrochage scolaire dans des situations très différentes de celles observées dans d’autres pays. L’instruction obligatoire augmente substantiellement le niveau de revenu à l’âge adulte et réduit de manière substantielle la probabilité d’avoir un Revenu très faible, d’être en chômage et d’être un travailleur manuel. Ces résultats suggèrent que cette législation a des effets bénéfiques significatifs qui ne sont vraisemblablement pas compensés par les coûts encourus en restant à l’école.

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  • Philip Oreopoulos, 2006. "The compelling effects of compulsory schooling: evidence from Canada," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 39(1), pages 22-52, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:39:y:2006:i:1:p:22-52
    DOI: 10.1111/j.0008-4085.2006.00337.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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