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Am I the big fish? The effect of ordinal rank on student academic performance in middle school

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  • Yu, Han

Abstract

This paper investigates the causal effect of ordinal rank on students’ academic performance in the short run. This paper provides the first direct evidence of the relationship between objective rank and students’ self-perceived rank, as well as of the impact of the self-perceived rank on students’ academic attainments. The results show that both students’ objective ability and self-perceived rank have a significant positive effect on students’ test scores. Taking advantage of the very detailed survey questions aimed at students, parents, and teachers, a large set of potential mechanisms are examined in the paper. I also find a positive effect of having a female teacher on the self-perceived rank of female students.

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  • Yu, Han, 2020. "Am I the big fish? The effect of ordinal rank on student academic performance in middle school," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 18-41.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:176:y:2020:i:c:p:18-41
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2020.05.006
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    Cited by:

    1. Tani, Massimiliano & Xu, Lei & Zhu, Yu, 2021. "The impact of an un(der)funded inclusive education policy: Evidence from the 2013 China education panel survey," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 768-784.
    2. Bertoni, Marco & Nisticò, Roberto, 2023. "Ordinal rank and the structure of ability peer effects," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    3. Megalokonomou, Rigissa & Zhang, Yi, 2024. "How good am I? Effects and mechanisms behind salient rank," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ordinal Rank; Educational Attainment; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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