School Choice in Sweden: Effects on Student Performance, School Costs, and Segregation

This article presents empirical analyses of the effects of independent schools in Sweden. The most important result is that the impact—both the positive and the negative—is relatively marginal. This said, there are now a number of studies that show that when independent schools are established the pupils in municipal schools perform better. Municipal school costs will, however, tend to rise marginally. The effects on school segregation are complex, but the tentative overall result is that independent schools may have added somewhat to the much more significant effect of increasing residential segregation.