Education as a positional good for market-based reforms of state schooling: paper presented at the ECER 2000-Conference in Edinburgh, 20-23 September 2000

Abstract

"Previous discussions of the desirability and impact of market-based reforms of state schooling while acknowledging positional elements in parental demand, have failed to fully examine their nature and implications. Contrary to the normal predictions of orthodox economic analysis, competition in positional markets can result in inefficient outcomes. Predominantly relying upon recent British experience, we examine the extent to which compulsory schooling can be viewed as positional good and explore its implications for policy. In particular we consider whether policies targeting increases in parental choice can be designed to assist a rise overall levels of educational attainment." (author's abstract)