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The Determinants and Consequences of School Choice Errors in Kenya

Author

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  • Adrienne M. Lucas
  • Isaac M. Mbiti

Abstract

School choice systems designed to help disadvantaged groups might be hindered by information asymmetries. Kenyan elite secondary schools admit students from the entire country based on a national test score, district quotas, and stated school choices. We find even the highest ability students make school choice errors. Girls, students with lower test scores, and students from public and low quality schools are more likely to make such errors. Net of observable demographic characteristics, these errors are associated with a decrease in the probability that a student is admitted to an elite secondary school, relegating them to schools of lower quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Adrienne M. Lucas & Isaac M. Mbiti, 2012. "The Determinants and Consequences of School Choice Errors in Kenya," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 102(3), pages 283-288, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:102:y:2012:i:3:p:283-88
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    File URL: http://www.aeaweb.org/articles.php?doi=10.1257/aer.102.3.283
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lai, Fang & Sadoulet, Elisabeth & de Janvry, Alain, 2009. "The adverse effects of parents' school selection errors on academic achievement: Evidence from the Beijing open enrollment program," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 485-496, August.
    2. Justine S. Hastings & Jeffrey M. Weinstein, 2008. "Information, School Choice, and Academic Achievement: Evidence from Two Experiments," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 123(4), pages 1373-1414.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Alex Rees-Jones & Ran Shorrer & Chloe Tergiman, 2024. "Correlation Neglect in Student-to-School Matching," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 16(3), pages 1-42, August.
    3. Ramírez-Hassan, Andrés & García, Gustavo A. & Saravia, Estefanía & Duque, Juan Fernando & Londoño, Daniel, 2023. "What kind of schools parents choose when they have more options? Effects of school transport subsidies," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 87(PA).
    4. S. Nageeb Ali & Ran I. Shorrer, 2025. "Hedging When Applying: Simultaneous Search with Correlation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 115(2), pages 571-598, February.
    5. Dustan, Andrew, 2018. "Family networks and school choice," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 372-391.
    6. Eba, Miressa Yadessa & Geta, Miressa Bekabil, 2022. "Parental kindergarten school choice in Addis Ababa: The policy implications," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    7. Hayri Alper Arslan & Yang Song & Tong Wang, 2024. "Preference submission timing and college admission outcomes: evidence from Turkey," Review of Economic Design, Springer;Society for Economic Design, vol. 28(1), pages 189-241, February.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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