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The long-term influences of ability mixing on soft skills

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  • Ahn, Taehyun
  • Goh, Young-Geun

Abstract

This study examines the effect of ability mixing (as opposed to ability grouping) in secondary education on long-term personality development. To address endogeneity and selection issues, we exploit a high school education reform implemented in Korea in the 1970s. This reform is the change in the admission system of general high school from ability grouping to ability mixing. The results show that ability mixing has significant influences on some personalities in adulthood. In particular, mixing treatment decreases agreeableness and conscientiousness. We also find that these impacts on personalities are more pronounced among females.

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  • Ahn, Taehyun & Goh, Young-Geun, 2021. "The long-term influences of ability mixing on soft skills," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 367-386.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:191:y:2021:i:c:p:367-386
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2021.09.008
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tracking; Big-five personality traits; Soft skills;
    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
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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