Mass Secondary Schooling and the State

摘要: In the three decades from 1910 to 1940, fraction of U.S. youths enrolled in public and private secondary schools increased 18 71 percent graduating soared 9 51 percent. At same time, state compulsory education child labor legislation became more stringent potentially constrained secondary-school aged youths. It might appear timing specifics this history that laws caused increase rates. We evaluate possibility schooling rates by using contemporaneous evidence on enrollments. also use micro-data 1960 census examine effect overall educational attainment. Our estimation approach exploits cross-state differences changes laws. find expansion 1939 can, at best, account for 5 high school enrollments can about portion eventual attainment affected cohorts over period.