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Parents Know Them Better: The Effect Of Optional Early Entry On Pupils' Schooling Attainment

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  • Patrizia Ordine
  • Giuseppe Rose
  • Daniela Sposato

Abstract

The effect of optional early school entry on pupils' educational outcomes is investigated using data covering the entire population of Italian primary school students and exploiting exogenous thresholds imposed by norms regulating first enrollment. Results highlight the fact that pupils whose parents can choose when their children start school perform better than those who are bounded by terms imposed by law. These findings suggest that parental choice leads to a better match between pupils' characteristics and the beginning of formal learning. Results show that giving parents the option to anticipate or delay school entry could be a beneficial measure. (JEL I20, H52)

Suggested Citation

  • Patrizia Ordine & Giuseppe Rose & Daniela Sposato, 2018. "Parents Know Them Better: The Effect Of Optional Early Entry On Pupils' Schooling Attainment," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 56(3), pages 1678-1705, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:56:y:2018:i:3:p:1678-1705
    DOI: 10.1111/ecin.12568
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Ainoa Aparicio Fenoll & Nadia Campaniello & Ignacio Monzón, 2023. "Parental Love Is Not Blind: Identifying Selection into Early School Start," Working Papers 286, Red Nacional de Investigadores en Economía (RedNIE).
    3. Eiji Yamamura & Yoshiro Tsustsui, 2021. "School closures and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 34(4), pages 1261-1298, October.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education

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