The Economics of Equal Education Opportunity

Abstract

There are four primary objectives for this thesis. First, an economic model of learning behavior is developed combining microeconomic theories with economist Gary Becker's theory on the allocation of time. The economic model argues that the student is a utility-maximizing agent who is both a consumer and producer of various commodities. This approach is significant from past approaches in that it views the student, not the school, as the producer of learning performance. . . . Second, the economic model works well to criticize and expose the shortcomings of our current method of schooling. . . . Third, the economic model serves as an expository vehicle which helps to interpret confounding, historic school data. . . . And finally, the economic moqel assists in the evaluation of public policies designed to provide individuals with equal education opportunities. [From Introduction]