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Does School Duration Affect Student Performance? Findings from Canton-Based Variation in Swiss Educational Length

Authors: Skirbekk V

Publication Year: 2005

Reference: IIASA Interim Report IR-05-008

Abstract

This paper investigates Swiss canton-based regulations to determine the number of school years required to graduate from academic track secondary school. The results show that the variation (12, 12.5 or 13 years) does not affect human capital levels (TIMSS math and science performance). This suggests that one could decrease school length from 13 to 12 years without decreasing student performance levels. A younger school leaving age could extend the working life, soften the burden of population aging, increase life-time income, and narrow the gap between desired and actual fertility.