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Professors’ Beauty, Ability, and Teaching Evaluations in Italy

Author

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  • Ponzo Michela

    (Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia Monte S. Angelo, I-80126, Napoli, Italy)

  • Scoppa Vincenzo

    (Department of Economics, Statistics and Finance, University of Calabria, Via Ponte Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy)

Abstract

Using data from an Italian University, we relate student evaluations of teaching quality to the physical attractiveness of instructors (as evaluated by external raters using photos), controlling for a number of teacher and course characteristics. We first show that teachers’ beauty significantly affects evaluations of their teaching. We carry out a number of checks to tackle threats to internal validity: course fixed effects and individual research productivity are controlled for; an IV estimation strategy is undertaken using a second measure of beauty as an instrument; and measures of grooming and fastidiousness are introduced. Notwithstanding these controls, we find that more attractive teachers receive much better evaluations.

Suggested Citation

  • Ponzo Michela & Scoppa Vincenzo, 2013. "Professors’ Beauty, Ability, and Teaching Evaluations in Italy," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 13(2), pages 811-835, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:13:y:2013:i:2:p:811-835:n:5
    DOI: 10.1515/bejeap-2012-0041
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fletcher, Jason M., 2009. "Beauty vs. brains: Early labor market outcomes of high school graduates," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 105(3), pages 321-325, December.
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    1. Alkusari, Haneen & Datta Gupta, Nabanita & Etcoff, Nancy, 2024. "In the eye of the promoter? How faculty ratings of attractiveness matter for junior academic careers," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 645-659.
    2. Stefano Bianchini & Francesco Lissoni & Michele Pezzoni & Lorenzo Zirulia, 2016. "The economics of research, consulting, and teaching quality: theory and evidence from a technical university," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(7), pages 668-691, October.
    3. Jay L Zagorsky, 2016. "Are Blondes Really Dumb?," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 36(1), pages 401-410.
    4. Sharon Tan & Evan Lau & Hiram Ting & Jun-Hwa Cheah & Biagio Simonetti & Tan Hiok Lip, 2019. "How Do Students Evaluate Instructors’ Performance? Implication of Teaching Abilities, Physical Attractiveness and Psychological Factors," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 146(1), pages 61-76, November.
    5. Sudhakar Raju, 2025. "Race, gender and beauty in instructional ratings: a quantile regression approach," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 27(1), pages 1-19, April.
    6. Bertoni, Marco & Rettore, Enrico & Rocco, Lorenzo, 2024. "If (my) 6 was (your) 9. Reporting heterogeneity in student evaluations of teaching," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    7. Jobu Babin, J. & Hussey, Andrew & Nikolsko-Rzhevskyy, Alex & Taylor, David A., 2020. "Beauty Premiums Among Academics," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).

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