The Economic Impact of Education Spending: Evidence from Self-Employed Households

Abstract

I examine the consumption and labor decisions of self-employed households when a child goes to college using unique financial transactions data from the linked accounts of small businesses and their owners. Households respond to the increase in education spending by downsizing business production and exiting self-employment. They increase medical and restaurant expenditures and cut back on mortgage payments. While education spending hampers business survival, self-employed parents become wage-earners or enter the gig economy after exiting to meet the financial obligations of sending kids to college.