The effect of import competition on educational attainment at the postsecondary level: Evidence from NAFTA

Maxine J. Lee

Economics of Education Review, 2021, vol. 82, issue C

Abstract: The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) substantially lowered the trade barrier between Mexico and the United States. I study the effect of American industries’ increased competition against Mexican imports on educational attainment at the postsecondary level. Using the commuting-zone-by-state level variations in the protection against import competition, I find evidence for a substantial increase in both enrollment and degree acquisition in public two- year colleges as a result of lowered tariffs on manufactured goods from Mexico. Educational attainment at four-year colleges, in the contrary, does not respond to NAFTA in a statistically meaningful manner.

Keywords: Demand for schooling; Educational economics; Postsecondary education; Community colleges (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F15 I21 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:82:y:2021:i:c:s0272775721000364

DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2021.102117

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