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STOCKHOLM SCHOOL
OF ECONOMICS

Managerial Discretion of School Principals

What kind of freedom do principals really have to lead their schools? At a time when expectations for school performance are growing, principals are expected to juggle administrative demands, political pressures, and the day-to-day responsibilities of running a school. But how much discretion do they actually have to make decisions that shape their schools’ future - and does this differ depending on whether they lead a public or independent school?

This project aims to explore the factors that influence principals’ managerial discretion within the Swedish school system and to investigate any differences between public and independent school providers. The study focuses on how laws and regulations, student demographics, interactions with municipal politicians and officials, and relationships with school staff, among other factors, affect principals’ ability to act. In addition, the project will examine the relationship between managerial discretion and academic outcomes at the school level. Through this analysis, the researchers aim to uncover both the challenges and opportunities that principals encounter as leaders.

The study uses a mixed-methods approach, drawing on both interview and survey data. Semi-structured interviews have been conducted with principals from both public and independent schools. Additionally, a survey was distributed to all Swedish principals in compulsory education during spring 2025.

The project is a collaboration between Ebba Henrekson and Michel Elmoznino Laufer at the Stockholm School of Economics and Timur Uman at .