Parman: Good schools make good neighbors: Human capital spillovers in early 20th century agriculture

Main Object- Importance of School and Agriculture

community benefits from transmission of agricultural knowledge

Main Object- Human Captial

• The collective skills and knowledge of people that can be used to improve economic value and community

• Improving a farmers ability to choose between inputs, outputs, and technologies

Main Object- Influence the social value of schooling

Influence the social value of schooling

Main Object- Innovation in Iowa

Farmers learning new information and practices

Main Object- Constructing a spatial dataset

Scarcity of historical data on income and education

Economic Significance

More educated farmers allowed for more innovation within the state which then resulted in a healthier economy. 

Research Question

Did educational improvements lead to agricultural and economic gains in nearby areas?

Main Findings

The main finding is that higher levels of education among parents and their social peers significantly raise their children's educational achievements, improve agriculture, and strengthen the community they live in.