A conscious investment or an unpleasant necessity? Parental expenditures on children’s education in Poland

Abstract

This study explores parents’ expenditures on the education of children aged 7–15 in Poland, focusing on the perception of school-related and additional expenditures. The study used a mixed-method approach. A qualitative analysis reveals differences in parental attitudes towards educational spending and a quantitative analysis, employing the Tobit regression model due to censored variables, indicates that a difficult financial situation correlates with slightly lower school- related expenditures, while it significantly affects additional expenditures. Parents’ education is a significant factor for additional expenditures but not for school-related ones. School-related expenditures show minimal variation based on family characteristics, suggesting their obligatory nature. Conversely, additional educational expenditures exhibit high diversity, with a notable percentage of families not incurring them. These outlays contribute to perpetuating educational inequalities. The study emphasises the importance of ongoing research on parental expenditures. This knowledge is essential for ensuring access to key public services such as education.