Free is not enough - the long-run impact of free education on cognitive function in older age: Evidence from Ireland

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<title>Free is not enough - the long-run impact of free education on cognitive function in older age: Evidence from Ireland</title>
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<namePart>Kieny, Clémence</namePart>
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<abstract displayLabel="Summary">Dementia is a major global health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Education is considered a strong protective factor against cognitive decline, but causality remains debated. This study examines the long-term cognitive effects of Ireland's 1967 Free Education reform, which abolished secondary school fees and expanded subsidies. Using data from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing and a regression discontinuity design, the authors find that the reform significantly increased schooling duration, particularly among low socioeconomic groups, but did not improve cognitive function, health behaviors, or labor market outcomes in later life. Evidence suggests that rapid enrollment growth without proportional investment in educational quality may explain the lack of cognitive benefits. The findings highlight that expanding access alone is insufficient to generate long-term cognitive gains without ensuring instructional quality, offering lessons for countries currently implementing free secondary education policies.</abstract>
<note type="statement of responsibility">Clémence Kieny ... [et al.]</note>
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<topic>Educación</topic>
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<topic>Cognición</topic>
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<topic>Evaluación de impacto</topic>
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<geographic>Irlanda</geographic>
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<url displayLabel="electronic resource" usage="primary display">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2026.100657</url>
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<title>The Journal of the economics of ageing</title>
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<publisher>Oxford : Elsevier ScienceDirect, 2021-</publisher>
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<identifier type="local">MAP20210010194</identifier>
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<text>03/07/2026 Volumen 35 - 2026 </text>
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