Teacher Labor Market Policy and the Theory of the Second Best*

S-Tier
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Economics
Year: 2025
Volume: 140
Issue: 2
Pages: 1417-1469

Authors (4)

Michael Bates (University of California-River...) Michael Dinerstein (not in RePEc) Andrew C Johnston (not in RePEc) Isaac Sorkin (Stanford University)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We estimate a matching model of teachers and elementary schools with rich data on teachers' applications and principals' ratings from a large, urban district in North Carolina. Both teachers’ and principals’ preferences deviate from those that would maximize the achievement of economically disadvantaged students: teachers prefer schools with fewer disadvantaged students, and principals' ratings are weakly related to teacher effectiveness. In equilibrium, these two deviations combine to produce a surprisingly equitable current allocation, where teacher quality is balanced across advantaged and disadvantaged students. To close achievement gaps, policies that address deviations on one side alone are ineffective or harmful, while policies that address both could substantially increase the achievement of disadvantaged students.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:qjecon:v:140:y:2025:i:2:p:1417-1469.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-24