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Unlocking Legal Efficiency Gains in School Switch Programs

Author

Listed:
  • Andersson, Tommy

    (Department of Economics, Lund University)

  • Lager, Nils

    (Stockholm School of Economics)

  • Kessel, Dany

    (Svenskt Utbildningsteknologi AB)

Abstract

We study school switches in which students who have already been assigned seats request reassignment. Unlike in regular school choice, stability need not be legally binding in such programs, since students’ priority-based claims have already been satisfied upstream. Efficiency then naturally becomes the primary design objective. To quantify the potential legal efficiency gains, we compare Deferred Acceptance (DA) with Top Trading Cycles (TTC) and an efficiency-adjusted DA (EADAM) using Swedish data. TTC and EADAM triple switching rates compared to DA. This difference is driven by the absence of slack in effective capacity and shrinks rapidly when introducing additional seats.

Suggested Citation

  • Andersson, Tommy & Lager, Nils & Kessel, Dany, 2026. "Unlocking Legal Efficiency Gains in School Switch Programs," Working Papers 2026:4, Lund University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:lunewp:2026_004
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    3. Atila Abdulkadiroglu & Parag A. Pathak & Alvin E. Roth, 2009. "Strategy-Proofness versus Efficiency in Matching with Indifferences: Redesigning the NYC High School Match," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 99(5), pages 1954-1978, December.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory
    • D47 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Market Design
    • D78 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation

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