Competition and Accessibility in School Markets: Empirical Analysis Using Boundary Discontinuities

Abstract

Advocates of market-based reforms in the public sector argue that competition between providers drives up performance. But in the context of schooling, the concern is that any improvements in efficiency may come at the cost of increased stratification of schools along lines of pupil ability and attainments. In this chapter, we discuss our empirical work on competition and parental choice in English primary schools and present a methodology for identifying competition effects that exploits discontinuities in market access close to education district boundaries.

Citation

Gibbons, S. and Silva, O. (2006), "Competition and Accessibility in School Markets: Empirical Analysis Using Boundary Discontinuities", Gronberg, T.J. and Jansen, D.W. (Ed.) Improving School Accountability (Advances in Applied Microeconomics, Vol. 14), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 157-184. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0278-0984(06)14007-9