When the Great Equalizer Shuts Down: Schools, Peers, and Parents in Pandemic Time

Francesco Agostinelli, Matthias Doepke, Giuseppe Sorrenti and Fabrizio Zilibotti
Additional contact information
Francesco Agostinelli: Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania
Giuseppe Sorrenti: Amsterdam School of Economics, University of Amsterdam
Fabrizio Zilibotti: Cowles Foundation, Yale University, https://economics.yale.edu/people/faculty/fabrizio-zilibotti

No 2267, Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers from Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University

Abstract: What are the effects of school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic on children's education? Online education is an imperfect substitute for in-person learning, particularly for children from low-income families. Peer effects also change: schools allow children from different socio-economic backgrounds to mix together, and this effect is lost when schools are closed. Another factor is the response of parents, some of whom compensate for the changed environment through their own efforts, while others are unable to do so. We examine the interaction of these factors with the aid of a structural model of skill formation. We find that school closures have a large and persistent effect on educational outcomes that is highly unequal. High school students from poor neighborhoods suffer a learning loss of 0.4 standard deviations, whereas children from rich neighborhoods remain unscathed. The channels operating through schools, peers, and parents all contribute to growing educational inequality during the pandemic.

Pages: 51 pages
Date: 2020-12
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (50)

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Related works:
Journal Article: When the great equalizer shuts down: Schools, peers, and parents in pandemic times (2022)
Working Paper: When the great equalizer shuts down: schools, peers, and parents in pandemic times (2022)
Working Paper: When the Great Equalizer Shuts Down: Schools, Peers, and Parents in Pandemic Times (2020)
Working Paper: When the Great Equalizer Shuts Down: Schools, Peers, and Parents in Pandemic Times (2020)
Working Paper: When the Great Equalizer Shuts Down: Schools, Peers, and Parents in Pandemic Times (2020)
Working Paper: When the Great Equalizer Shuts Down: Schools, Peers, and Parents in Pandemic Times (2020)
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