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Television and Academic Achievement: Evidence from the Digital Television Transition in the UK

Nieto Castro, Adrian LU (2025) In Economic Journal 135(666).
Abstract
This paper exploits exogenous variation in the transition date from an analogue to digital television signal in the UK across more than 32,000 geographical units to examine the causal impact of television on academic performance and potential mechanisms. Using a large administrative dataset on the universe of students in public education in England, I show that the switchover increased pupil test scores and that the effect is driven by economically disadvantaged students. Using TV market data and a child survey dataset, I investigate possible mechanisms. I show that the digital transition considerably increased TV viewing time and displaced forms of socialisation associated with risky behaviour for disadvantaged children.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Economic Journal
volume
135
issue
666
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
ISSN
0013-0133
DOI
10.1093/ej/ueae091
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
973d98be-04ab-4621-9ae6-d4ad09cba370
date added to LUP
2025-03-18 16:41:24
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:50:53
@article{973d98be-04ab-4621-9ae6-d4ad09cba370,
  abstract     = {{This paper exploits exogenous variation in the transition date from an analogue to digital television signal in the UK across more than 32,000 geographical units to examine the causal impact of television on academic performance and potential mechanisms. Using a large administrative dataset on the universe of students in public education in England, I show that the switchover increased pupil test scores and that the effect is driven by economically disadvantaged students. Using TV market data and a child survey dataset, I investigate possible mechanisms. I show that the digital transition considerably increased TV viewing time and displaced forms of socialisation associated with risky behaviour for disadvantaged children.}},
  author       = {{Nieto Castro, Adrian}},
  issn         = {{0013-0133}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{666}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Economic Journal}},
  title        = {{Television and Academic Achievement: Evidence from the Digital Television Transition in the UK}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ej/ueae091}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/ej/ueae091}},
  volume       = {{135}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}