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Teams, Organization and Education Outcomes: Evidence from a field experiment in Bangladesh

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  • Zenou, Yves
  • Patacchini, Eleonora
  • Islam, Asad

Abstract

We study the relationship between network centrality and educational outcomes using a field experiment in primary schools in Bangladesh. After obtaining information on friendship networks, we randomly allocate students into groups and give them individual and group assignments. We find that the groups that perform the best are those whose members have high Katz-Bonacich and key-player centralities. Leaders are mostly responsible for this effect, while bad apples have little influence. Group members' network centrality is also important in shaping individual performance. We show that network centrality captures non-cognitive skills, especially patience and competitiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Zenou, Yves & Patacchini, Eleonora & Islam, Asad, 2015. "Teams, Organization and Education Outcomes: Evidence from a field experiment in Bangladesh," CEPR Discussion Papers 10631, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:10631
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    Cited by:

    1. Dasaratha, Krishna, 2020. "Distributions of centrality on networks," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 1-27.
    2. Díaz, Carlos & Patacchini, Eleonora & Verdier, Thierry & Zenou, Yves, 2021. "Leaders in juvenile crime," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 638-667.
    3. Francis Bloch & Matthew O. Jackson & Pietro Tebaldi, 2023. "Centrality measures in networks," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 61(2), pages 413-453, August.
    4. Matthew O. Jackson & Brian W. Rogers & Yves Zenou, 2017. "The Economic Consequences of Social-Network Structure," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 55(1), pages 49-95, March.
    5. Zenou, Yves & Lindquist, Matthew & Sauermann, Jan, 2015. "Network Effects on Worker Productivity," CEPR Discussion Papers 10928, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    6. Dequiedt, Vianney & Zenou, Yves, 2017. "Local and consistent centrality measures in parameterized networks," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 28-36.
    7. Matias Berthelon & Eric Bettinger & Diana I. Kruger & Alejandro Montecinos-Pearce, 2019. "The Structure of Peers: The Impact of Peer Networks on Academic Achievement," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 60(7), pages 931-959, November.
    8. Chiara Criscuolo & Jonathan Timmis, 2018. "The Changing Structure of Global Value Chains: Are Central Hubs Key for Productivity?," International Productivity Monitor, Centre for the Study of Living Standards, vol. 34, pages 64-80, Spring.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Leaders; Network centrality; Soft skills; Team work;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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