| Owner: |
Heewon Jang
|
| Owner Email: |
hjang6@ua.edu
|
| Paper Title: |
Fiscal Federalism and the Progressivity of Within-District Spending in U.S. Public Education
|
| Session Title: |
Unpacking Education Production Pipeline: Government Spending, Allocation of Funds, and Household Invested
|
| Paper Type: |
Paper
|
| Presentation Date: |
4/13/2024
|
| Presentation Location: |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|
| Descriptors: |
Economics of Education, Educational Policy, Finance
|
| Methodology: |
Quantitative
|
| Author(s): |
Heewon Jang, University of Alabama; Richard DiSalvo, Princeton University
|
| Unit: |
SIG-Fiscal Issues, Policy and Education Finance
|
| Abstract: |
The traditional view in public economics is that local governments in a federal system cannot effectively redistribute resources due to interjurisdictional competition over wealthier taxpayers. However, analyzing the first school-level spending data across the country reveals that within-district spending allocations are generally progressive: school districts typically allocate more spending to schools enrolling a higher number of disadvantaged students within their boundaries. We consider explanations for this unexpected pattern. We identify state and federal policies as key drivers of this within-district progressivity, aligning with the traditional view that redistribution is primarily operated through central governments. Specifically, approximately 83% of the within-district contribution to progressivity can be explained by federal spending and allocations earmarked for special education and English language learning students.
|
| DOI: |
https://doi.org/10.3102/2107700
|