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Do Teacher Strikes Harm Educational Attainment of Students?

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  • Michèle Belot
  • Dinand Webbink

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of a teacher strike on student achievement. From May 1990 until November 1990 teachers in the French community of Belgium stroked to obtain a salary increase. We exploit the political division of Belgium in a French community and a Flemish community, with similar educational institutions, for estimating the long-term effects of the strikes. Based on a difference‐in‐differences approach, using data from two different surveys, we find some evidence that the strikes reduced educational attainment and increased class repetition. We also find that the strikes led to a significant reallocation of students to a lower level of higher education. Overall, the results suggest that teacher strikes can lead to substantial costs for those not involved in the conflict.

Suggested Citation

  • Michèle Belot & Dinand Webbink, 2010. "Do Teacher Strikes Harm Educational Attainment of Students?," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 24(4), pages 391-406, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:labour:v:24:y:2010:i:4:p:391-406
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/j.1467-9914.2010.00494.x
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