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Information asymmetries between parents and educators in German childcare institutions

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  • Georg F. Camehl
  • Pia S. Schober
  • C. Katharina Spiess

Abstract

Economic theory predicts market failure in the market for early childhood education and care (ECEC) due to information asymmetries. We empirically investigate information asymmetries between parents and ECEC professionals in Germany, making use of a unique extension of the Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP). We compare quality perceptions by parents and by professionals across 734 institutions. We detect considerable information asymmetries that differ across quality measures but less so by parental socio-economic background or center characteristics. Both similarly contribute to explaining variations in the information gap. We conclude that information is not readily available to parents; an issue that should be addressed by policy-makers.

Suggested Citation

  • Georg F. Camehl & Pia S. Schober & C. Katharina Spiess, 2018. "Information asymmetries between parents and educators in German childcare institutions," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(6), pages 624-646, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:edecon:v:26:y:2018:i:6:p:624-646
    DOI: 10.1080/09645292.2018.1463358
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    16. Georg F. Camehl & Juliane F. Stahl & Pia S. Schober & C. Katharina Spieß, 2015. "Höhere Qualität und geringere Kosten von Kindertageseinrichtungen – zufriedenere Eltern?," DIW Wochenbericht, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 82(46), pages 1105-1113.
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    Cited by:

    1. Spieß C. Katharina & Schober Pia S. & Stahl Juliane F., 2020. "Early Childhood Education and Care Quality in the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) – the K2ID-SOEP Study," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 240(1), pages 111-120, February.
    2. Hermes, Henning & Lergetporer, Philipp & Peter, Frauke & Wiederhold, Simon, 2021. "Behavioral Barriers and the Socioeconomic Gap in Child Care Enrollment," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 16/2021, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    3. Spieß C. Katharina & Schober Pia S. & Stahl Juliane F., 2020. "Early Childhood Education and Care Quality in the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) – the K2ID-SOEP Study," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 240(1), pages 111-120, January.
    4. Kuger, Susanne & Becker, Birgit & Spieß, C. Katharina, 2020. "Pädagogische Konzeptionen von Kindertageseinrichtungen – Deskription eines pädagogischen Instruments," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 23(3), pages 509-537.
    5. Ludovica Gambaro & Guido Neidhöfer & C. Katharina Spieß, 2019. "The Effect of Early Childhood Education and Care Services on the Social Integration of Refugee Families," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1828, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    6. Huebener, Mathias & Pape, Astrid & Spiess, C. Katharina, 2020. "Parental labour supply responses to the abolition of day care fees," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 510-543.
    7. Gambaro, Ludovica & Neidhöfer, Guido & Spiess, C. Katharina, 2021. "The effect of early childhood education and care services on the integration of refugee families," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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