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How Long Does It Last? The Relative Age Ef ect inKorean Elementary Education

Author

Listed:
  • Dirk Bethmann

    (Korea University; Department of Economics; Anam-dong, Sungbuk-gu; Seoul 02841)

  • Jae Il Cho

    (Vanderbilt University; Department of Economics; 010-back Calhoun Hall, Nashville, TN, 37240, United States)

Abstract

An elementary school student‟s relative age is defined as the child‟s age relative to the age of its classmates. To what extent relative age gaps influence academic outcomes is an ongoing debate in educational economics and related fields. Our study analyzes the existence, magnitude, and duration of relative age effects in South Korea for various school subjects. Our results show that relative age effects are stronger for science related subjects and that they disappear after students graduate from elementary school and start their secondary school education.

Suggested Citation

  • Dirk Bethmann & Jae Il Cho, 2021. "How Long Does It Last? The Relative Age Ef ect inKorean Elementary Education," Discussion Paper Series 2106, Institute of Economic Research, Korea University.
    • Handle: RePEc:iek:wpaper:2106
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    File URL: http://econ.korea.ac.kr/~ri/WorkingPapers/w2106.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Dirk Bethmann & Jae Il Cho, 2022. "On the Child Quantity-Quality Trade-off: The Academic Performance of World Cup Babies," Discussion Paper Series 2201, Institute of Economic Research, Korea University.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    relative age effect; seasonal birth; academic achievement;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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