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Smart but unhappy: Independent-school competition and the wellbeing-efficiency trade-off in education

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  • Heller-Sahlgren, Gabriel

Abstract

We study whether independent-school competition involves a trade-off between pupil wellbeing and academic performance. To test this hypothesis, we analyse data covering pupils across the OECD, exploiting historical Catholic opposition to state schooling for exogenous variation in independent-school enrolment shares. We find that independent-school competition decreases pupil wellbeing but raises achievement and lowers educational costs. Our analysis and balancing tests indicate these findings are causal. In addition, we find several mechanisms behind the trade-off, including more traditional teaching and stronger parental achievement pressure.

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  • Heller-Sahlgren, Gabriel, 2018. "Smart but unhappy: Independent-school competition and the wellbeing-efficiency trade-off in education," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 66-81.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:62:y:2018:i:c:p:66-81
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2017.10.005
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    2. Robert Rudolf & Dirk Bethmann, 2023. "The Paradox of Wealthy Nations’ Low Adolescent Life Satisfaction," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 79-105, January.
    3. Jose Marquez & Louise Lambert & Megan Cutts, 2023. "Geographic, Socio-Demographic and School Type Variation in Adolescent Wellbeing and Mental Health and Links with Academic Competence in the United Arab Emirates," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(2), pages 797-836, April.
    4. Maria Granvik Saminathen & Sara B. Låftman & Bitte Modin, 2019. "School Choice at a Cost? Academic Achievement, School Satisfaction and Psychological Complaints among Students in Disadvantaged Areas of Stockholm," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-18, May.
    5. Ioannis Katsantonis & Beatriz Barrado & Ros McLellan & Gregorio Gimenez, 2024. "Subjective Well-Being and Bullying Victimisation: A Cross-National Study of Adolescents in 64 Countries and Economies," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(4), pages 1563-1585, August.
    6. Dirk Bethmann & Robert Rudolf, 2021. "The paradox of wealthy nations' unhappy adolescents," Discussion Paper Series 2101, Institute of Economic Research, Korea University.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Independent-school competition; Human capital; Wellbeing-efficiency trade-off;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • L33 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Comparison of Public and Private Enterprise and Nonprofit Institutions; Privatization; Contracting Out
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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