Ability, parental background and educational policy: empirical evidence from a social experiment

摘要: Following the great expansion of secondary education in United States between 1910 and 1940, Sweden was one first Western European countries to attempt such an by increasing years compulsory schooling improving access academic type abolishing early selection. The reform preceded a large-scale area based social experiment where 25% country's municipalities were assigned reform. We use this assignment, together with rich individual data evaluate major educational intervention. Our key findings are that increased attainment individuals unskilled fathers. In addition it caused significant large increases earnings those fathers above median ability.