Are Public Libraries Improving Quality of Education? When the Provision of Public Goods is not Enough

Abstract

We analyze the relation between public, education-related infrastructure and the quality of education in schools using a case-study of the construction and implementation of two large public libraries in low-income areas in Bogot, Colombia. We assess the impact of these libraries on quality of education by comparing results in national test scores (Saber 11) for schools close and far from these libraries before (2000-2002) and after (2003-2008) the libraries' opening. We find non-statistically different from zero differences that could be attributed to the libraries' implementation. We also introduce Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition on Difference-in-Differences (DiD) estimates in order to assess if variation of traditional determinants of test scores for mathematics, verbal and science explain the result estimates. These results are robust to alternative specifications of DiD, a synthetic control approach and an alternative measure of distance. (English) ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]; Analizamos la relacin entre infraestructura pblica, orientada hacia la educacin, y la calidad de la educacin de los colegios tomando como caso de estudio la construccin e implementacin de dos bibliotecas pblicas de gran escala en reas de ingresos bajos en Bogot, Colombia. Para verificar el impacto de esas bibliotecas comparamos los resultados de los colegios cercanos y lejanos a ellas en las pruebas nacionales de educacin media-secundaria Saber 11, antes (2000-2002) y despus (2003-2008) de la apertura de estas. No encontramos evidencia estadsticamente significativa de que las bibliotecas hayan generado una diferencia en los resultados. Para poder determinar si el impacto en los resultados de matemticas, lenguaje y ciencias se explica por variaciones en determinantes tradicionales, desarrollamos una descomposicin Oaxaca-Blinder del estimador de Diferencia en Diferencias (DiD). Estos resultados son robustos a diferentes especificaciones del DiD, a la utilizacin de la tcnica de control sinttico o a medidas alternativas de la distancia. (Spanish) ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]; Copyright of Desarrollo y Sociedad is the property of Universidad de los Andes and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)