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Reopening schools in a context of low COVID-19 contagion: consequences for teachers, students and their parents

Author

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  • Anna Godøy

    (University of Oslo)

  • Maja Weemes Grøtting

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

  • Rannveig Kaldager Hart

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

Abstract

Knowing how school reopenings affect the spread of COVID-19 is crucial when balancing children’s right to schooling with contagion management. This paper considers the effects on COVID-19 testing prevalence and the positive test rate of reopening Norwegian schools after a 6-week closure aimed at reducing contagion. We estimate the effects of school reopening on teachers, parents and students using an event study/difference-in-differences design that incorporates comparison groups with minimal exposure to in-person schooling. We find no evidence that COVID-19 incidence increased following reopening among students, parents or teachers pooled across grade levels. We find some suggestive evidence that infection rates among upper secondary school teachers increased; however, the effects are small and transitory. At low levels of contagion, schools can safely be reopened when other social distancing policies remain in place.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Godøy & Maja Weemes Grøtting & Rannveig Kaldager Hart, 2022. "Reopening schools in a context of low COVID-19 contagion: consequences for teachers, students and their parents," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(3), pages 935-961, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:35:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s00148-021-00882-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-021-00882-x
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    Cited by:

    1. Pengjun Zhao & Yukun Gao, 2023. "Discovering the long-term effects of COVID-19 on jobs–housing relocation," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; School closures;

    JEL classification:

    • H12 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Crisis Management
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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