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Tracking When Ranking Matters

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)

  • Eric Maurin

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of grouping students by prior achievement into different classes in a context where students are preparing for the entrance exams to elite graduate programs offering a limited number of seats. We show that this policy has, on average, pos- itive effects on students’ performance and rankings. However, these improvements mainly concern students who were the strongest at the start of the preparation period, among whom children from privileged backgrounds are largely over-represented. Ultimately, the practice of grouping students by prior achievement into different classes increases inequalities in access to elite programs between children from different backgrounds.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Fanny Landaud & Eric Maurin, 2023. "Tracking When Ranking Matters," Working Papers hal-04322956, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-04322956
    DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4653190
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    as
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality

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