Basic Education as a Human Right Redux

Second Global International Studies Conference, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, July 2008

22 Pages Posted: 9 Nov 2009

See all articles by Larry Willmore

Larry Willmore

International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

Date Written: July 26, 2008

Abstract

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights promises free elementary education and free choice of schools to children and their parents. International fora emphasise the first right while neglecting the second. This essay examines arguments for limiting school choice and finds each of them to be unconvincing. It then describes three school systems: India, with free choice, but only for those who can afford to pay; Sweden, with taxpayer-funded free choice for everyone; and Finland, which allows parents almost no choice at all in basic education.

Keywords: education, human rights, public goods, vouchers, India, Sweden, Finland

JEL Classification: H52, I28

Suggested Citation

Willmore, Larry, Basic Education as a Human Right Redux (July 26, 2008). Second Global International Studies Conference, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, July 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1501925 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1501925

Larry Willmore (Contact Author)

International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis ( email )

Schlossplatz 1
Laxenburg, A-2361
Austria
+43 2236 807 374 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://larrywillmore.net

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