American Economic Journal:
Economic Policy
ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)
No Spending without Representation: School Boards and the Racial Gap in Education Finance
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
vol. 15,
no. 2, May 2023
(pp. 198–235)
Abstract
This paper provides causal evidence that greater minority representation on school boards translates into greater investment in minority students. Focusing on California school boards, I instrument for minority (specifically, Hispanic) representation using random ballot ordering and leverage new data from a statewide capital investment program to capture intradistrict resource allocations. I show that Hispanic board members invest the marginal dollar in high-Hispanic schools within their districts. High-Hispanic schools also exhibit gains in student achievement and decreased teacher turnover. I conclude that enhancing minority representation on school boards could help combat long-standing disparities in education.Citation
Fischer, Brett. 2023. "No Spending without Representation: School Boards and the Racial Gap in Education Finance." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 15 (2): 198–235. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20200475Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- H75 State and Local Government: Health; Education; Welfare; Public Pensions
- I21 Analysis of Education
- I22 Educational Finance; Financial Aid
- I24 Education and Inequality
- J15 Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
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