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The Value of a High School GPA

Author

Listed:
  • Fanny Landaud

    (THEMA - Théorie économique, modélisation et applications - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - CY - CY Cergy Paris Université, CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Éric Maurin

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Barton Willage

    (University of Colorado [Denver], NBER - National Bureau of Economic Research [New York] - NBER - The National Bureau of Economic Research)

  • Alexander Willén

    (NHH - Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Department of Economics - Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, UCLS - Uppsala Center for Labor Studies)

Abstract

This paper provides novel evidence on the causal effect of high school Grade Point Average (GPA) on the human capital development and labor market trajectory of individuals. Causal identification is achieved by exploiting a unique feature of the Norwegian education system that produces exogenous variation in GPA among high school students. We find little effect on the number of completed years of higher education, but significant effects on the number and quality of higher education programs available to students after high school. Most importantly, we find persistent effects on students' long-run labor market outcomes, most notably market wage.

Suggested Citation

  • Fanny Landaud & Éric Maurin & Barton Willage & Alexander Willén, 2024. "The Value of a High School GPA," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) halshs-04409423, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:pseptp:halshs-04409423
    DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_01422
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-04409423v1
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    Keywords

    Returns to education; High school GPA; High-stakes exams;
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