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Peer effects and academic achievement: a regression discontinuity approach

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  • Vardardottir, Arna

Abstract

In this paper, I study ability peer effects among teenagers. The identification relies on a fuzzy regression discontinuity approach where assignment into high-ability classes constitutes the source of identifying information. An important feature of this system is that both types of classes are taught by the same teachers, they follow a common curriculum and take the same exams. Students are in general unaware of the system prior to school start as it is unofficial. In cases where they are informed of the system's existence, they do not know where the threshold lies and school switching possibilities are limited. I find significant and sizable effect on the academic achievement of students around the assignment threshold. Being assigned to a high-ability class increases academic achievement, measured by year grade and spring exam results, by 0.47 and 0.32 standard deviations, respectively.

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  • Vardardottir, Arna, 2013. "Peer effects and academic achievement: a regression discontinuity approach," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 108-121.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:36:y:2013:i:c:p:108-121
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2013.06.011
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    3. Christopher Belfield & Imran Rasul, 2020. "Cognitive and Non‐Cognitive Impacts of High‐Ability Peers in Early Years," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(1), pages 65-100, March.
    4. Baert, Stijn & Omey, Eddy & Verhaest, Dieter & Vermeir, Aurélie, 2015. "Mister Sandman, bring me good marks! On the relationship between sleep quality and academic achievement," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 91-98.
    5. Alice Battiston & Sophie Hedges & Thomas Lazarowicz & Stefan Speckesser, 2020. "Peer Effects and Social Influence in Post-16 Educational Choice," CVER Research Papers 025, Centre for Vocational Education Research.
    6. Alexandra de Gendre & Nicolás Salamanca, 2020. "On the Mechanisms of Ability Peer Effects," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2020n19, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    7. Alfred Kechia Mukong, 2017. "Peer Networks and Tobacco Consumption in South Africa," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 85(3), pages 341-367, September.
    8. Ahmet Alkan & Sinan Sarpça & Sinan Sarpca, 2023. "Effects of High-Achieving Peers: Findings from a National High School Assignment System," CESifo Working Paper Series 10794, CESifo.
    9. David Card & Laura Giuliano, 2016. "Can Tracking Raise the Test Scores of High-Ability Minority Students?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 106(10), pages 2783-2816, October.
    10. John Jerrim & Luis Alejandro Lopez‐Agudo & Oscar David Marcenaro‐Gutierrez, 2021. "Posh but Poor: The Association Between Relative Socio‐Economic Status and Children’s Academic Performance," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 67(2), pages 334-362, June.
    11. Prieto-Latorre, Claudia & Lopez-Agudo, Luis Alejandro & Luque, Mariano & Marcenaro-Gutierrez, Oscar David, 2022. "The ideal use of the internet and academic success: Finding a balance between competences and knowledge using interval multiobjective programming," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    12. Ejermo, Olof & Hansen, Høgni Kalsø, 2014. "How Important are Local Inventive Milieus: The role of Birthplace, High School and University Education," Papers in Innovation Studies 2014/15, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    13. Min, Shi & Yuan, Zhouhang & Wang, Xiaobing & Hou, Lingling, 2019. "Do peer effects influence the academic performance of rural students at private migrant schools in China?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 418-433.
    14. Stefan Speckesser & Sophie Hedges, 2017. "Peer Effects and Social Influence in Post-16 Educational Choice," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Discussion Papers 483, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
    15. Claudia Prieto-Latorre & Oscar D. Marcenaro-Gutierrez & Luis Alejandro Lopez-Agudo, 2021. "The Role of Catchment Areas on School Segregation by Economic, Social and Cultural Characteristics," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 158(3), pages 1013-1044, December.
    16. Li, Ling & Liu, Yutian & Peng, Zhenfei & Liao, Meiqin & Lu, Liucun & Liao, Huan & Li, Hui, 2020. "Peer relationships, motivation, self-efficacy, and science literacy in ethnic minority adolescents in China: A moderated mediation model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    17. Pilar Beneito & Inés Rosell, 2018. "Gender responses to competitive pressure in college: a regression discontinuity design," Discussion Papers in Economic Behaviour 0518, University of Valencia, ERI-CES.
    18. Vardardottir, Arna, 2015. "The impact of classroom peers in a streaming system," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 110-128.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Education; Peer effects; Fuzzy regressiondiscontinuity approach;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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