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Beauty Premiums Among Academics

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  • Jobu Babin, J.
  • Hussey, Andrew
  • Nikolsko-Rzhevskyy, Alex
  • Taylor, David A.

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of instructors’ attractiveness on student evaluations of their teaching. We build on previous studies by holding both observed and unobserved characteristics of the instructor and classes constant. Our identification strategy exploits the fact that many instructors, in addition to traditional teaching in the classroom, also teach in the online environment, where attractiveness is either unknown or less salient. We utilize multiple attractiveness measures, including facial symmetry software, subjective evaluations, and a novel, proxy methodology that resembles a “Keynesian Beauty Contest.” We identify a substantial beauty premium in face-to-face classes for women but not for men. While gender on its own does not impact teaching evaluation scores, female instructors rated as more attractive receive higher instructional ratings. This result holds across several beauty measures, given a multitude of controls and while controlling for unobserved instructor characteristics and skills. Notably, the positive relationship between beauty and teaching effectiveness is not found in the online environment, suggesting the observed premium may be due to discrimination.

Suggested Citation

  • Jobu Babin, J. & Hussey, Andrew & Nikolsko-Rzhevskyy, Alex & Taylor, David A., 2020. "Beauty Premiums Among Academics," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:78:y:2020:i:c:s0272775719307538
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2020.102019
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Babin, J. Jobu & Chauhan, Haritima S. & Kistler, Steven L., 2024. "When pretty hurts: Beauty premia and penalties in eSports," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 726-741.
    2. Zhai, Shengying & Chen, Qihui & Zhao, Qiran, 2022. "Beauty and popularity in friendship networks—Evidence from migrant schools in China," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    3. Chung, Andy & Hamermesh, Daniel S. & Singleton, Carl & Wang, Zhengxin & Zhang, Junsen, 2024. "Looks and Gaming: Who and Why?," IZA Discussion Papers 17191, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Babin, J. Jobu & Hussey, Andrew, 2023. "Gender penalties and solidarity — Teaching evaluation differentials in and out of STEM," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    5. Hale, Galina & Regev, Tali & Rubinstein, Yona, 2023. "Do looks matter for an academic career in economics?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 406-420.
    6. Ahmed, Shaker & Ranta, Mikko & Vähämaa, Emilia & Vähämaa, Sami, 2023. "Facial attractiveness and CEO compensation: Evidence from the banking industry," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    7. Hamermesh, Daniel S. & Leigh, Andrew K., 2022. "“Beauty too rich for use”: Billionaires’ assets and attractiveness," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    8. Ong, David, 2024. "College rank, facial characteristics, and personality traits in China and the US," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 369-387.
    9. David Ong, 2022. "The college admissions contribution to the labor market beauty premium," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 40(3), pages 491-512, July.
    10. Green, Colin P. & Wilson, Luke B. & Zhang, Anwen, 2023. "Beauty, underage drinking, and adolescent risky behaviours," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 153-166.
    11. Alkusari, Haneen & Datta Gupta, Nabanita & Etcoff, Nancy, 2024. "In the eye of the promoter? How faculty ratings of attractiveness matter for junior academic careers," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 645-659.
    12. Kimberly Scharf & Oleksandr Talavera & Linh Vi, 2023. "Gender Differences in Returns to Beauty," Discussion Papers 23-08, Department of Economics, University of Birmingham.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Beauty premium; Discrimination; College teaching; Gender gap; Online teaching;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J70 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - General
    • I29 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Other
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General

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