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Do Second Chances Pay Off?

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  • Aspasia Bizopoulou
  • Rigissa Megalokonomou
  • Stefania Simion

Abstract

In several countries, students who fail end-of-high-school high-stakes exams are faced with the choice of retaking them or forgoing postsecondary education. We explore exogenous variation generated by a 2006 policy that imposed a performance threshold for admission into postsecondary education in Greece to estimate the effect of retaking exams on a range of outcomes. Using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design and novel administrative data, we find that low-achieving students who retake national exams improve their performance by half a standard deviation, but do not receive offers from higher quality postsecondary placements. The driving mechanism for these results stems from increased competition.

Suggested Citation

  • Aspasia Bizopoulou & Rigissa Megalokonomou & Stefania Simion, 2022. "Do Second Chances Pay Off?," Bristol Economics Discussion Papers 22/762, School of Economics, University of Bristol, UK.
    • Handle: RePEc:bri:uobdis:22/762
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Victor Lavy & Rigissa Megalokonomou, 2024. "Alternative Measures of Teachers’ Value Added and Impact on Short and Long-Term Outcomes: Evidence From Random Assignment," Monash Economics Working Papers 2024-12, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    2. Goulas, Sofoklis & Megalokonomou, Rigissa & Zhang, Yi, 2022. "Female Neighbors, Test Scores, and Careers," IZA Discussion Papers 15733, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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