公共图书馆投资的回报
The Returns to Public Library Investment
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy · 2024 · [{"name": "Gregory Gilpin", "affiliation": ["Montana State University"]}, {"name": "Ezra Karger", "affiliation": ["Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago"]}, {"name": "Peter Nencka", "affiliation": ["Miami University"]}]
中文摘要
美国地方政府每年投入超过120亿美元，用于资助15,427所公共图书馆的运营，但我们对其效果知之甚少。本文利用几乎覆盖全部公共图书馆的数据表明，公共图书馆资本投资使图书馆访问量、儿童参加图书馆活动的人数以及儿童借阅量在投资后的年份中平均增加5%–15%。图书馆使用量的增加转化为邻近学区考试成绩的提高：对地方公共图书馆每名学生200美元或以上的资本投资，会使随后年份的阅读考试成绩提高0.01–0.04个标准差。(JEL G31, H75, I21, L86)
Abstract
Local governments spend over $12 billion annually funding the operation of 15,427 public libraries in the United States, yet we know little about their effects. We use data describing the near universe of public libraries to show that public library capital investment increases library visits, children’s attendance at library events, and children’s circulation by an average of 5–15 percent in the years following investment. Increases in library use translate into improved test scores in nearby school districts: a $200 or greater per student capital investment in local public libraries increases reading test scores by 0. 01–0.04 standard deviations in subsequent years. (JEL G31, H75, I21, L86)