Full Citation

Title: Would More Compulsory Schooling Help Disadvantaged Youth? Evidence From Recent Changes to School-Leaving Laws

Citation Type: Working Paper

Publication Year: 2007

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Abstract: Dropout rates have fallen little over the last thirty years and remain disproportionately high among blacks, Hispanics, and children from low-income families. Many states have considered raising the minimum school leaving age as a means to improve on these outcomes. Several states have already raised the school leaving age above 16, although often with exceptions. This paper uses these recent changes to estimate the effects from more compulsory schooling. The results suggest that more restrictive laws would reduce dropout rates, increase college enrollment, and improve career outcomes. Some caution is warranted because focusing on more recent law changes leads to more imprecision. But the consistent findings with previous studies are suggestive that compulsory high school at later ages can benefit disadvantaged youth.

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Authors: Oreopoulos, Philip

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Publication Number: c0588

Institution: National Bureau of Economic Research

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Publisher Location: Cambridge, MA

Data Collections: IPUMS USA, IPUMS CPS

Topics: Education, Race and Ethnicity

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