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The Hidden Curriculum and Social Preferences

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  • Takahiro ITO
  • Kohei KUBOTA
  • Fumio OHTAKE

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of the informal school curriculum (hidden curriculum) on subsequent preference formation. The estimation results using Japanese data show that the hidden curriculum at public elementary schools varies widely from place to place, and is associated with preference formation. In particular, those who have experienced "participatory and cooperative learning" practices are more likely to be altruistic, cooperative, reciprocal, and have national pride. In contrast, the influence of educational practices emphasizing "anti-competition" is negatively associated with these attributes. Robustness checks also show that our estimates are less likely to be biased due to omitted variables or reverse causality. These findings imply that elementary school education, as a place for early socialization, plays a role in the formation of social preferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Takahiro ITO & Kohei KUBOTA & Fumio OHTAKE, 2014. "The Hidden Curriculum and Social Preferences," Discussion papers 14024, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    • Handle: RePEc:eti:dpaper:14024
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    1. Willa Friedman & Michael Kremer & Edward Miguel & Rebecca Thornton, 2016. "Education as Liberation?," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 83(329), pages 1-30, January.
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    6. Ryoji MATSUOKA & Makiko NAKAMURO & Tomohiko INUI, 2013. "Widening Educational Disparities Outside of School: A longitudinal study of parental involvement and early elementary schoolchildren's learning time in Japan," Discussion papers 13101, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
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    9. Willa Friedman & Michael Kremer & Edward Miguel & Rebecca Thornton, 2016. "Education as Liberation?," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 83(329), pages 1-30, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yamamura, Eiji, 2019. "Female teachers’ relative wage level in the 1930s and its long-term effects on current views on female labor participation: A case study from Japan," MPRA Paper 93677, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Eiji Yamamura & Yoshiro Tsutsui, 2017. "Trade policy preference, childhood sporting experience, and informal school curriculum: Examination from the viewpoint of behavioral economics," Discussion Papers in Economics and Business 17-25, Osaka University, Graduate School of Economics.
    3. Vipul Bhatt & Masao Ogaki & Yuichi Yaguchi, 2017. "Introducing Virtue Ethics into Normative Economics for Models with Endogenous Preferences," RCER Working Papers 600, University of Rochester - Center for Economic Research (RCER).
    4. Kim, Hisam, 2018. "Healing a Wary, Self-cultivating Society through Education," KDI Focus 91, Korea Development Institute (KDI).
    5. Eiji Yamamura, 2017. "Historical education levels and present-day non-cognitive skills," Journal of Economics and Econometrics, Economics and Econometrics Society, vol. 60(1), pages 28-51.
    6. Toshihiro OKUBO & Alexander F. WAGNER & Kazuo YAMADA, 2017. "Does Foreign Ownership Explain Company Export and Innovation Decisions? Evidence from Japan," Discussion papers 17099, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    7. Kubota, Kohei & Ito, Takahiro & Ohtake, Fumio, 2019. "Long-term consequences of group work in Japanese public elementary schools," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).

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