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Class size, teacher hours and educational attainment

Author

Listed:
  • Martin Browning

    (Institute of Economics, University of Copenhagen)

  • Eskil Heinesen

    (Institute of Local Government Studies, Copenhagen, Denmark)

Abstract

We employ a regression-discontinuity design to identify effects on educational attainment (years of education) of class size and the number of pupils per weekly teacher hour using administrative rules as instruments. We use a Danish administrative panel data set based on a 10% random sample of eight cohorts of pupils (and their parents). Restricting the sample to observations close to enrollment discontinuity points, instrumental variables estimates are consistently negative. Although the estimates are not very precisely determined, the point estimates indicate rather large positive effects of reducing class size, and especially of reducing the number of pupils per teacher hour.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Browning & Eskil Heinesen, 2003. "Class size, teacher hours and educational attainment," CAM Working Papers 2003-15, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. Centre for Applied Microeconometrics, revised Jun 2005.
    • Handle: RePEc:kud:kuieca:2003_15
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Martin Browning & Eskil Heinesen, 2007. "Class Size, Teacher Hours and Educational Attainment," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 109(2), pages 415-438, June.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    school quality; class size; educational attainment; instrumental variables; regression-discontinuity design;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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