Does Private Schooling Increase Adult Earnings? Cohort-Level Evidence for U.S. States

John V Winters,Reilee L Berger

doi:10.52324/001c.8035

Abstract

Public schooling in the U.S. has numerous critics, many of whom suggest that alternatives such as providing vouchers for private schools may be more effective. This paper combines decennial census and American Community Survey data for various years to examine the relationship between cohort-level private-schooling rates and later earnings during adulthood. We also explore differences by sex and examine the role played by the quantity of education completed and occupational attainment. We find a significant positive relationship between private-schooling rates and adult earnings for women but a small relationship for men.

Highlights

The effectiveness of public schools has been questioned in recent years in numerous dimensions, and many stakeholders claim that the American public educational system is deeply flawed
Some argue that the quality of the school in general matters, while others suggest that teacher value makes the difference
While such an increase in private-school enrollment is not observed in the data and not generally possible, the scaling is helpful for interpreting the economic importance of the marginal effects

Summary

Introduction

The effectiveness of public schools has been questioned in recent years in numerous dimensions, and many stakeholders claim that the American public educational system is deeply flawed. Private schooling does provide an alternative, but it is costly for individuals and currently inaccessible to many with limited means. The effectiveness of public schools has been questioned in recent years in numerous dimensions, and many stakeholders claim that the American public educational system is deeply flawed.. Private schooling does provide an alternative, but it is costly for individuals and currently inaccessible to many with limited means. There is no consensus among researchers as to the benefits from private schools. There is, some evidence to suggest that attending a private school might provide an individual with various benefits later in life. In particular, seem to provide greater long-run benefits than do public schools (Neal, 1998). Different explanations from various authors have been offered to explain the possible advantages of private schooling. Some argue that the quality of the school in general matters, while others suggest that teacher value makes the difference.. Some argue that the quality of the school in general matters, while others suggest that teacher value makes the difference. School quality differs in

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