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The State, Socialization, and Private Schooling: When Will Governments Support Alternate Producers?

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  • Pritchett, Lant

    (Harvard University)

  • Viarengo, Martina

    (Graduate Institute, Geneva and Center for International Development, Harvard University)

Abstract

Understanding the institutional features that can improve learning outcomes and reduce inequality is a top priority for international and development organizations around the world. Economists appear to have a good case for support to non-governmental alternatives as suppliers of schooling. However, unlike other policy domains, freer international trade or privatization, economists have been remarkably unsuccessful in promoting the adoption of this idea. We develop a simple general positive model of why governments typically produce schooling which introduces the key notion of the lack of verifiability of socialization and instruction of beliefs, which makes third party contracting for socialization problematic. We use the model to explain variations around the world in levels of private schooling. We also predict the circumstances in which efforts to promote the different alternatives to government production--like charter, voucher, and scholarship--are likely to be successful.

Suggested Citation

  • Pritchett, Lant & Viarengo, Martina, 2013. "The State, Socialization, and Private Schooling: When Will Governments Support Alternate Producers?," Working Paper Series rwp13-050, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:harjfk:rwp13-050
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Cinnirella, Francesco & Schueler, Ruth, 2018. "Nation building: The role of central spending in education," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 18-39.
    2. Lant Pritchett, 2014. "The Risks to Education Systems from Design Mismatch and Global Isomorphism," CID Working Papers 277, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    3. Pritchett, Lant, 2014. "The risks to education systems from design mismatch and global isomorphism: Concepts, with examples from India," WIDER Working Paper Series 039, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Lant Pritchett, 2014. "The Risks to Education Systems from Design Mismatch and Global Isomorphism: Concepts, with Examples from India," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2014-039, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • H50 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - General

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