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Do Less Informative College Admission Exams Reduce Earnings Inequality? Evidence from Colombia

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  • Evan Riehl

Abstract

This paper asks whether reducing the informativeness of college admission exams reduces inequality in postcollege earnings. I examine a 2000 reform of the Colombian college admission exam that sought to reduce bias in scores. The reform reduced test score gaps between high- and low-income students by nearly 50% in some subjects, but it also decreased the exam’s predictive power for abilities that matter in college. I find that the reform caused students to attend colleges where they were more likely to drop out, which reduced earnings for both high- and low-income students.

Suggested Citation

  • Evan Riehl, 2024. "Do Less Informative College Admission Exams Reduce Earnings Inequality? Evidence from Colombia," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 42(4), pages 1009-1047.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/725167
    DOI: 10.1086/725167
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