Identifier

1106

Document Type

Discussion Paper

Date of Paper

Spring 5-27-2024

Abstract

This paper studies school choice and information frictions in Haiti. Through a randomized control trial, we assess the impact of disclosing school-level test score information on learning outcomes, prices, and market shares. We find evidence that in markets where information was disclosed, students attending private schools increased test scores. The results also suggest private schools with higher baseline test scores increased their market share as well as their fees when the disclosure policy is implemented. While prices and test scores were not significantly correlated in the baseline survey, they exhibited a significant and positive correlation in treatment markets after information disclosure. These results underscore the potential of information provision to enhance market efficiency and improve children’s welfare in context such as Haiti.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Rolland St. Pierre who coordinated the data collection in the field, as well as the enumerators and field surveyors that made this research in Haiti possible. We would also like to thank the parents, teachers, principals, and students that participated in the study. The authors wish to thank Manuela Cardona and Sergio Arango for their excellent research assistance.

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