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Who benefits from homework assignments?

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  • Rønning, Marte

Abstract

Using Dutch data on pupils in elementary school this paper is the first empirical study to analyze whether assigning homework has a heterogeneous impact on pupil achievement. Addressing potential biases by using a difference-in-difference approach, I find that the test score gap is larger in classes where everybody gets homework than in classes where nobody gets homework. More precisely pupils belonging to the upper part of the socioeconomic scale perform better when homework is given, whereas pupils from the lowest part are unaffected. At the same time more disadvantaged children get less help from their parents with their homework. Homework can therefore amplify existing inequalities through complementarities with home inputs.

Suggested Citation

  • Rønning, Marte, 2011. "Who benefits from homework assignments?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 55-64, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:30:y:2011:i:1:p:55-64
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    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Does homework worsen inequality?
      by Ariel Goldring in Free Market Mojo on 2010-04-23 12:13:12

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    1. Cowan, Benjamin & Jones, Todd R. & Swigert, Jeffrey, 2024. "Parental and Student Time Use Around the Academic Year," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 66-110.
    2. Caetano, Carolina & Caetano, Gregorio & Nielsen, Eric, 2024. "Are children spending too much time on enrichment activities?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    3. Christian Andersson & Per Johansson, 2013. "Social stratification and out-of-school learning," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 176(3), pages 679-701, June.
    4. Zhao, Liange & Yuan, Hongbin & Wang, Xueyuan, 2024. "Impact of homework time on adolescent mental health: Evidence from China," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    5. Pratobevera, Giuseppe, 2022. "Homework and finance students’ learning and achievement," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PB).
    6. Brunello, Giorgio & De Paola, Maria & Labartino, Giovanna, 2014. "More apples fewer chips? The effect of school fruit schemes on the consumption of junk food," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 118(1), pages 114-126.
    7. Carlos Cortinhas, 2017. "Does formative feedback help or hinder students? An empirical investigation," Discussion Papers 1701, University of Exeter, Department of Economics.
    8. Munteanu Diana Rodica & Călin Mariana Floricica & Petre Cristian, 2023. "A Task-based learning application in Higher Education, for future teachers of primary and preschool education," BlackSea Journal of Psychology, Ovidius University of Constanta, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, vol. 14(3), pages 16-28, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Educational economics Human capital;

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I29 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Other

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