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University Admission:Is Achievement a Sufficient Criterion?

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  • Alessandro Tampieri

Abstract

We analyse university admission through a statistical discrimination model where students differ in ability and social groups. Universities aim to enrol the students with the best human capital, which is given by their innate ability and of the learning carried outwhile at school. Students and school choose their learning and teaching effort based onthe behaviour of universities. Interestingly, we find that students from less advantaged groups need a lower grade to be admitted to the best universities, while less competitive universities do the opposite. If a university cannot discriminate according to social groups, all students with same grade will attend universities of the same quality, with different levels of human capital according to their social group.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandro Tampieri, 2019. "University Admission:Is Achievement a Sufficient Criterion?," Working Papers - Economics wp2019_26.rdf, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Scienze per l'Economia e l'Impresa.
    • Handle: RePEc:frz:wpaper:wp2019_26.rdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    discrimination; affermative action; studying effort; teaching effort.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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