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  3. American Economic Review
  4. May 2017
  5. The Importance of Information Targeting for School Choice

The Importance of Information Targeting for School Choice

  • Kehinde F. Ajayi
  • Willa H. Friedman
  • Adrienne M. Lucas
American Economic Review
vol. 107, no. 5, May 2017
(pp. 638-43)
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Abstract

Although school choice programs are common, we know little about the underlying decision-making processes. In this study, we randomly assigned 900 junior high schools in Ghana, a country with universal secondary school choice, to 1 of 3 treatment arms: (1) information to students, (2) information to students and guardians, and (3) control group. We observe changes in beliefs, behaviors, and the decision maker's identity through a survey of guardians. Our intervention increased the likelihood that guardians were involved with and informed about the school selection process. Moreover, specifically targeting guardians led to significantly larger changes for most outcomes.

Citation

Ajayi, Kehinde F., Willa H. Friedman, and Adrienne M. Lucas. 2017. "The Importance of Information Targeting for School Choice." American Economic Review, 107 (5): 638-43. DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20171131

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • H52 National Government Expenditures and Education
  • I21 Analysis of Education
  • I28 Education: Government Policy
  • O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration