Does Education Matter? Tests from Extensions of Compulsory Schooling in England and Wales
This report challenges the belief that more schooling leads to significant social and economic benefits.
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| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Report location: | source |
| Language: | English |
| Publisher: | CATO Institute |
| Authors: | Neil Cummins, Gregory Clark |
| Geographic focus: | England, Wales |
Methods
The research method involved analyzing historical extensions of compulsory schooling in England and comparing outcomes such as income, measured by house values, and social mobility, using the index of multiple deprivation of death districts. The study used birth and death records, electoral registers, and house value data to assess the effects of schooling on the cohorts affected by the extensions.
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Key Insights
The report examines the impact of compulsory schooling extensions in England and Wales on social and economic outcomes. Using large-scale data sources, the authors find no evidence of significant gains in income, longevity, or social mobility from increased schooling. Earlier studies suggested wage gains from schooling extensions, but later research and the authors' analysis show no such benefits. The findings question the widespread belief in the substantial benefits of education and suggest that lost schooling may not have long-term social costs.
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Additional Viewpoints
Categories: England geographic scope | English publication language | Wales geographic scope | compulsory schooling | covid-19 impact | economic outcomes | educational policy | income measurement | longevity | natural experiment | publication bias | social mobility | social sciences