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Weak Markets, Strong Teachers: Recession at Career Start and Teacher Effectiveness

Author

Listed:
  • Nagler, Markus
  • Piopiunik, Marc
  • West, Martin R.

Abstract

How do alternative job opportunities affect teacher quality? We provide the first causal evidence on this question by exploiting business cycle conditions at career start as a source of exogenous variation in the outside options of potential teachers. Unlike prior research, we directly assess teacher quality with value-added measures of impacts on student test scores, using administrative data on 33,000 teachers in Florida public schools. Consistent with a Roy model of occupational choice, teachers entering the profession during recessions are significantly more effective in raising student test scores. Results are supported by placebo tests and not driven by differential attrition.

Suggested Citation

  • Nagler, Markus & Piopiunik, Marc & West, Martin R., 2015. "Weak Markets, Strong Teachers: Recession at Career Start and Teacher Effectiveness," Discussion Papers in Economics 25110, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:lmu:muenec:25110
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    File URL: https://epub.ub.uni-muenchen.de/25110/1/513.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    teacher value-added; talent allocation; business cycle; Roy model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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