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The Fast and the Studious? Ramadan Observance and Student Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Hanemaaijer, Kyra

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam)

  • Marie, Olivier

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam)

  • Musumeci, Marco

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam)

Abstract

What are the consequences of religious obligations conflicting with civic duties? We investigate this question by evaluating changes in the performance of practicing Muslim students when end-of-secondary-school exams and Ramadan overlapped in the Netherlands. Using administrative data on exam takers and a machine learning model to individually predict fasting probability, we estimate that the grades and pass rate of compliers dropped significantly. This negative impact was especially strong for low achievers and those from religiously segregated schools. Investigating mechanisms, we find evidence that not being able to sleep in the morning before an afternoon exam was particularly detrimental to performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanemaaijer, Kyra & Marie, Olivier & Musumeci, Marco, 2023. "The Fast and the Studious? Ramadan Observance and Student Performance," IZA Discussion Papers 16249, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16249
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    religion; productivity; Ramadan; education; The Netherlands;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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