Information and the Politics of School Quality: Evidence from a Nationwide Reform in Brazil

Abstract:

We use the introduction of a school-level accountability system in Brazil to estimate the effects of public information about school quality. Reports revealing that schools are high in the test score distribution increase the incumbent mayor's vote share by about 2 percentage points. These effects are larger in places with more educated voters and more parents with school-age children. Schools revealed to be performing poorly receive increased investments in subsequent years.