The Determinants of Parental Choice of Education: The Case of Pennsylvania

Abstract

This paper investigates that determinants ofparents' education choices depend not only on economic factors but also on non-economic factors. I examined Pennsylvania's 67 counties in school year 1989-1990 as a case study of these determinants. An empirical model was applied to the study. Results reveal thatK-12 private school enrollment rates (i.e., parents' choice of education) are positively related to median household income, income inequality, urban proportion, nonwhite proportion, and religious beliefs. In particular, both nonwhite proportion and religious beliefs exert an extremely positive and significant effect on private school enrollment rates. (C30; 120; 010)