Weak Markets, Strong Teachers: Recession at Career Start and Teacher Effectiveness

Nagler, Markus; Piopiunik, Marc und West, Martin R. (Juli 2015): Weak Markets, Strong Teachers: Recession at Career Start and Teacher Effectiveness. Münchener Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Beiträge (VWL) 2015-513

Abstract

How do alternative job opportunities affect teacher quality? We provide the first causal evidence on this question by exploiting business cycle conditions at career start as a source of exogenous variation in the outside options of potential teachers. Unlike prior research, we directly assess teacher quality with value-added measures of impacts on student test scores, using administrative data on 33,000 teachers in Florida public schools. Consistent with a Roy model of occupational choice, teachers entering the profession during recessions are significantly more effective in raising student test scores. Results are supported by placebo tests and not driven by differential attrition.

• Dokumententyp: Paper
• Keywords: teacher value-added, talent allocation, business cycle, Roy model
• Fakultät: Volkswirtschaft ; Volkswirtschaft > Munich Discussion Papers in Economics ; Sonderforschungsbereiche > Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems > B5 - Weltwirtschaftliche Integration und die neue Firmenorganisation
• Themengebiete: 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 330 Wirtschaft
• JEL Classification: E32, H75, I20, J24
• Sprache: Englisch

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