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Title: Why did Education Become Publicly Funded? Evidence from the Nineteenth-Century Growth of Public Primary Schooling in the United States

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2009

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Abstract: Why do voters publicly fund education? I examine two explanations: publicfunds may be a means for decisive voters to transfer wealth to themselves orvoters may subsidize the education of others to raise social education levelsand realize external benefits. I test these theories in the 1800s, when full taxsupport of primary schools emerged. States where median and mean wealthwas closer together had higher fractions of education revenue from publicsources. Attendance rates rose when the public share of education fundingrose, especially for poor children. These facts are consistent with a model withexternal benefits of education.

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Authors: Stoddard, Christiana

Periodical (Full): The Journal of Economic History

Issue: 1

Volume: 69

Pages: 172-201

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Education, Poverty and Welfare

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