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Parental Preferences for Primary School Characteristics

Author

Listed:
  • Borghans, Lex

    (Maastricht University)

  • Golsteyn, Bart H.H.

    (Maastricht University)

  • Zölitz, Ulf

    (University of Zurich)

Abstract

Free school choice has often been argued to be a tide that lifts school quality through increased competition. This paper analyzes the underlying assumption that school quality is an important choice criterion for parents. Using a large and representative data set of over 15,000 Dutch primary school starters we estimate models of school demand that incorporate heterogeneity in school preferences. Our results show that traditional measures for school quality matter, but other characteristics, such as school denomination and educational philosophy, are more important predictors of choice. Preferences for these school characteristics are strongly heterogeneous across parents.

Suggested Citation

  • Borghans, Lex & Golsteyn, Bart H.H. & Zölitz, Ulf, 2014. "Parental Preferences for Primary School Characteristics," IZA Discussion Papers 8371, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8371
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pierre Koning & Karen Wiel, 2012. "School Responsiveness to Quality Rankings: An Empirical Analysis of Secondary Education in the Netherlands," De Economist, Springer, vol. 160(4), pages 339-355, December.
    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.
    3. Simon Burgess & Ellen Greaves & Anna Vignoles & Deborah Wilson, 2015. "What Parents Want: School Preferences and School Choice," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 125(587), pages 1262-1289, September.
    4. Train,Kenneth E., 2009. "Discrete Choice Methods with Simulation," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521747387.
    5. Brian A. Jacob & Lars Lefgren, 2007. "What Do Parents Value in Education? An Empirical Investigation of Parents' Revealed Preferences for Teachers," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 122(4), pages 1603-1637.
    6. Pierre Koning & Karen van der Wiel, 2013. "Ranking The Schools: How School-Quality Information Affects School Choice In The Netherlands," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 11(2), pages 466-493, April.
    7. Justine S. Hastings & Richard Van Weelden & Jeffrey Weinstein, 2007. "Preferences, Information, and Parental Choice Behavior in Public School Choice," NBER Working Papers 12995, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Wouters & Zoltan Hermann & Carla Haelermans, 2018. "Demand for secondary school characteristics - Evidence from school choice data in Hungary," Budapest Working Papers on the Labour Market 1803, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
    2. Greaves, Ellen & Turon, Hélène, 2024. "School Choice and Neighborhood Sorting: Equilibrium Consequences of Geographic School Admissions," IZA Discussion Papers 16805, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Andreas Bjerre-Nielsen & Mikkel Høst Gandil, 2024. "Attendance Boundary Policies and the Limits to Combating School Segregation," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 16(1), pages 190-227, February.
    4. Mariana Laverde, 2022. "Distance to Schools and Equal Access in School Choice Systems," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 1046, Boston College Department of Economics.
    5. Nienke Ruijs & Hessel Oosterbeek, 2019. "School Choice in Amsterdam: Which Schools are Chosen When School Choice is Free?," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 14(1), pages 1-30, Winter.
    6. Mariana Laverde, 2022. "Distance to Schools and Equal Access in School Choice Systems," Working Papers 2022-002, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    school competition; school quality; school choice;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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