Does longer compulsory schooling affect mental health? Evidence from a British reform

TY - JOUR

T1 - Does longer compulsory schooling affect mental health? Evidence from a British reform

AU - Avendano, Mauricio

AU - De Coulon, Augustin

AU - Nafilyan, Vahe Louis

PY - 2020/3

Y1 - 2020/3

N2 - In this paper, we examine whether longer compulsory schooling has a causal effect on mental health, exploiting a 1972 reform which raised the minimum school leaving age from age 15 to 16 in Great Britain. Using a regression discontinuity design, we find that the reform did not improve mental health. We provide evidence that extending the duration of compulsory schooling impacts mental health through channels other than increased educational attainment. We argue that these effects may mitigate or offset the health returns to increased educational attainment.

AB - In this paper, we examine whether longer compulsory schooling has a causal effect on mental health, exploiting a 1972 reform which raised the minimum school leaving age from age 15 to 16 in Great Britain. Using a regression discontinuity design, we find that the reform did not improve mental health. We provide evidence that extending the duration of compulsory schooling impacts mental health through channels other than increased educational attainment. We argue that these effects may mitigate or offset the health returns to increased educational attainment.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104137

DO - 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104137

M3 - Article

SN - 0047-2727

VL - 183

SP - 1

EP - 34

JO - JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS

JF - JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS

M1 - 104137

ER -