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Geographical constraints and educational attainment

Author

Listed:
  • Bjarne Strøm

    (Deartment of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Torberg Falch

    (Deartment of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Päivi Lujala

    (Deartment of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

This paper estimates the impact of geographical proximity to upper secondary schools on graduation propensity. It uses detailed information on real travel time between students’ homes and schools in Norway and on the composition of study programs at each school. We find that reduced travel time has a positive effect on graduation. The result is robust to a number of specifications, including IV-models and difference-in-difference models. The effect seems to be concentrated on students with mediocre prior academic achievement, which suggests that mainly students at the margin of graduation are affected by geographical constraints.

Suggested Citation

  • Bjarne Strøm & Torberg Falch & Päivi Lujala, 2011. "Geographical constraints and educational attainment," Working Paper Series 11811, Department of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
    • Handle: RePEc:nst:samfok:11811
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    Cited by:

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    6. Giuseppe Bruno & Manuel Cavola & Antonio Diglio & Carmela Piccolo, 2022. "Geographical accessibility to upper secondary education: an Italian regional case study," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 69(2), pages 511-536, October.
    7. Ronny Freier & Johanna Storck, 2012. "The Treatment Effect of Attending a High-Quality School and the Influence of Unobservables," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1256, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    8. Hazans, Mihails & Holmen, Rasmus Bøgh & Upenieks, Jānis & Žabko, Oksana, 2024. "Regional inequalities in access to STEM-oriented secondary education in Latvia," MPRA Paper 120646, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Garrouste, Manon & Zaiem, Meryam, 2020. "School supply constraints in track choices: A French study using high school openings," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    10. Elad DeMalach, 2023. "Geographic Barriers to Education in Disadvantaged Communities: Evidence from High School Openings in Israeli Arab Localities," Bank of Israel Working Papers 2023.02, Bank of Israel.
    11. George Abuchi Agwu & Oussama Ben Atta, 2021. "University proximity at teenage years and educational attainment," Working Papers hal-03492963, HAL.
    12. Dante Contreras & Daniel Hojman & Manuel Matas & Patricio Rodríguez & Nicolás Suárez, 2018. "The impact of commuting time over educational achievement: A machine learning approach," Working Papers wp472, University of Chile, Department of Economics.
    13. Dustan, Andrew & Ngo, Diana K.L., 2018. "Commuting to educational opportunity? School choice effects of mass transit expansion in Mexico City," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 116-133.
    14. Ooi, Joseph T.L. & Le, Thao T.T., 2013. "The spillover effects of infill developments on local housing prices," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(6), pages 850-861.
    15. Kaja Høiseth Brugård, 2013. "Does School Choice Improve Student Performance?," Working Paper Series 14513, Department of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
    16. Cong Liao & Teqi Dai, 2022. "Is “Attending Nearby School” Near? An Analysis of Travel-to-School Distances of Primary Students in Beijing Using Smart Card Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-12, April.
    17. Moreno-Monroy, Ana I. & Lovelace, Robin & Ramos, Frederico R., 2018. "Public transport and school location impacts on educational inequalities: Insights from São Paulo," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 110-118.
    18. Kobus, Martijn B.W. & Van Ommeren, Jos N. & Rietveld, Piet, 2015. "Student commute time, university presence and academic achievement," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 129-140.
    19. Kaja Høiseth Brugård & Torberg Falch, 2012. "Student performance and imprisonment," Working Paper Series 13212, Department of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
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    21. Oussama Ben Atta, 2022. "University proximity at teenage years and educational attainment," French Stata Users' Group Meetings 2022 02, Stata Users Group.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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