The Effects of Home Computers on Educational Outcomes

Evidence from a Field Experiment with Community College Students

Dados Bibliográficos

ID9718366
AutoresRobert W Fairlie (0000-0002-8634-9785, University of California), Rebecca A London (0000-0002-6369-9280, Stanford University)
Ano2012
Volume122
Fascículo561
Páginas727-753
Data de publicação2012-06-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoThe Economic Journal (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0013-0133 • E-ISSN: 1468-0297
EditoraOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1111/j.1468-0297.2011.02484.x
OpenAlexW2245078121
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas11
Referências citadas29

There is no clear theoretical prediction regarding whether home computers are an important input in the educational production function. To investigate the hypothesis, we conduct a field experiment involving the random provision of free computers to low‐income community college students for home use. Although estimates for a few measures are imprecise and cannot rule out zero effects, we find some evidence that the treatment group achieved better educational outcomes than the control group. The estimated effects, however, are not large and are smaller than non‐experimental estimates. There is also some evidence that benefits from home computers increase with distance to campus

Community college · Control (management · Demographic economics · Econometrics · Economics · Field (mathematics · Management · Mathematics education · Medical education · Microeconomics · Production (economics · Random assignment · Statistics · Treatment and control groups · Higher Education Research Studies · ICT Impact and Policies · Mathematics · Medicine · Psychology · School Choice and Performance