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Immigrant Examination Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Epstein, Gil S.

    (Bar-Ilan University)

  • Sansani, Shahar

    (College of Management Academic Studies)

Abstract

In this paper, we estimate differences in examination behavior between immigrants and natives, by examining differences in the propensity to forego a passing grade on a final exam in order to retake that final exam. Retaking a final exam involves some level of uncertainty, so differences in examination behavior may be due to differences in motivation, risk-taking, and discipline. We find that immigrants are about 2 percentage points more likely to retake a passed exam than natives. This represents a large difference given a baseline retake rate of about 6.5 percentage points.

Suggested Citation

  • Epstein, Gil S. & Sansani, Shahar, 2019. "Immigrant Examination Behavior," IZA Discussion Papers 12758, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
  • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12758
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    immigrant-native differences; examination behavior; uncertainty; motivation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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