Bankbook, mapbook, or textbook: Migration, local age structure, and funding of public primary and secondary schools in the United States

Population age structure affects policies, such as the level at which public schools are funded, that influence the extent of resource transfers between generations. This is especially true where population is aging, and where that aging will, in all likelihood, intensify. The United States faces this situation now and in the near future.; While most prior research on the topic has been conducted at aggregated geographic levels above those where public school funding decisions are made, the setting for this study is the more than 15,000 school districts in the United States. Residents have the most direct and immediate impact over levels of public school funding at the district level. This study links data on school district funding levels with particular characteristics of funding mechanisms and with other local area characteristics that might be attractive or unattractive to persons of or near retirement age who are making location decisions. Analysis at other geo-political levels misses variation in funding levels and structures, as well as variation in attributes of local areas that attract or repel migrating older persons.; Methods include an economic model and several different multiple regression techniques, including instrumental variables and bounding methods. State policy and amenities measures serve as the instrumental variables. The results of this study, in contrast to most prior studies, consistently indicate a positive relationship between school district funding measures and district age structure, measured by share of population age 65 and over. Qualitatively, the results were similar across the methods. The instrumental variables proved ineffective, failing to meet the required statistical standards. Results from the bounding methods, intended to gauge potential bias due to selection of local area characteristics, show not only positive relationships but also notable consistency.; The results are important for this topic, and have important implications, too. Positive correlations have been shown between education and health, wealth, and length of life. Education is often the route to social mobility. The positive relationship between funding and age distribution may indicate altruism, not selfishness, on the part of older persons, reducing intergenerational acrimony and suspicion, and guiding policy.