Susan Mayer on What Money Can't Buy

Interventions

Educational interventions are crucial in improving outcomes for children in poverty. Susan Mayer discusses the potential of behavioral tools and field experiments, such as encouraging parents to engage in math activities with their children, to enhance educational success 1. She suggests that these methods may be more effective than simply increasing income, as they directly target skills that improve academic performance. Russ Roberts raises the idea that parents might invest more in their children's education if they had to pay a portion of the costs, potentially increasing parental involvement 2.

I think you get a bigger effect on kids' math scores or reading scores or absentee rates than these other things.

--- Susan Mayer

Mayer acknowledges the need for innovative approaches, given the limited resources available for intensive interventions.

   

School vs. Home

The debate over the influence of school versus home on educational success is complex. Susan Mayer argues that while improving schools can have an impact, the majority of a child's time is spent outside of school, making home-based factors crucial 3. She emphasizes that enhancing family involvement in education is a more sustainable and cost-effective solution than solely focusing on schools. Russ Roberts highlights the importance of understanding the mobility within income groups, noting that many people experience poverty temporarily 4.

The solution to the problem in a sustainable way is to get families to do the things that families ought to do.

--- Susan Mayer

Mayer suggests that addressing educational disparities requires a nuanced understanding of poverty and targeted support for families.