Does Class Size Matter? How, and at What Cost?

Desire Kedagni, Kala Krishna (), Rigissa Megalokonomou and Yingyan Zhao

No 25736, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Using high quality administrative data on Greece we show that class size has a hump shaped effect on achievement. We do so both nonparametrically and parametrically, while controlling for potential endogeneity and allowing for quantile effects. We then embed our estimates for this relationship in a dynamic structural model with costs of hiring and firing. We argue that the linear specification form used in past work may be why it found mixed results. Our work suggests that while discrete reductions in class size may have mixed effects, discrete increases are likely to have very negative effects while marginal changes in class size would have small negative effects. We find optimal class sizes around 27 in the absence of adjustment costs and achievement maximizing ones around 15, and firing costs much larger than hiring costs consistent with the presence of unions. Despite this, reducing firing costs actually reduces achievement. Reducing hiring costs raises achievement and reduces class size. We show that class size caps are costly, and more so for small schools, even when set at levels well above average.

JEL-codes: C61 I20 I28 J48 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lma
Note: ED
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Published as Kedagni, Desire & Krishna, Kala & Megalokonomou, Rigissa & Zhao, Yingyan, 2021. "Does class size matter? How, and at what cost?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).

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Journal Article: Does class size matter? How, and at what cost? (2021)
Working Paper: Does class size matter? How, and at what cost? (2021)
Working Paper: Does Class Size Matter? How, and at What Cost? (2019)
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