This research involves using econometric analysis techniques to create a model that attempts to explain variation in the mean SAT scores for individual U.S. states. The multiple regression analysis aims to explain how various structural and socioeconomic factors in the U.S. affect the quality of education, as measured by the average SAT score each individual U.S. state achieves. This study is unique in that it focuses on the impact that the abundance of natural resources, and the low-skill/high-wage jobs associated with those resources, has on each state’s mean SAT score. Through developing an understanding of which factors affect the quality of education, and to what extent, we can make adjustments to policies that may have beneficial implications for both the economy and the individual.
