This paper characterizes the determinants and implications of private schooling in a large and detailed set of French data. Empirical models detect negative selection into private schooling on observable and unobservable ability, while State-provided education appears more suitable to students...

Private school students do not always perform better in standardized tests. We suggest that this may be explained by choice of private schooling by less capable students in countries where government schools are better suited to talented students. To assess the empirical relevance of this...