Fagernäs, Sonja and Pelkonen, Panu (2018) Teachers, electoral cycles and learning in India. Journal of Human Resources. ISSN 0022-166X

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Abstract

Teachers are central for learning, but their hiring and management can be influenced by political factors, especially when they are civil servants. Using an administrative school-level panel data set for India, we find significant increases in teacher transfers and moderate increases in hiring after state elections. The timing of these elections is pre-determined and staggered across states. The reorganization of teachers is partly related to political turnover. Pupils' test scores are also up to 0.15 standard deviations lower in the post-election phase. Following a range of estimations for alternative explanations, we conclude that the reorganization of teachers can disrupt learning.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Teacher transfers, Political cycle, Education, India
Schools and Departments:	School of Business, Management and Economics > Economics
Subjects:	J Political Science > JQ Political institutions and public administration (Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific Area, etc.) J Political Science > JQ Political institutions and public administration (Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific Area, etc.) > JQ0021 Asia > JQ0200 India L Education > L Education (General)
Depositing User:	Panu Pelkonen
Date Deposited:	27 Jul 2018 10:54
Last Modified:	26 Oct 2018 14:29
URI:	http://srodev.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/77389

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