Hazlett on Public Spending on Internet Access and Educational Attainment

August 24, 2016

President Obama’s recently proposed $4 billion per year in public spending on the E-rate program, to increase internet access in schools. These programs have a long history of support from politicians on both sides of the aisle. But do they work?

Research by Clemson economist Thomas Hazlett says no. Internet penetration is already widespread, and the history of programs to bring technology to students in schools is replete with failure. His op-ed, Obama’s misguided plan to connect schools to the Internet was published August 23 in Politico. The article is based on research done by Hazlett and Clemson PhD student Ben Schwall and Scott Wallsten of the Technology Policy Institute. The paper is available here at Social Science Research Network.