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Rank, peer achievement, and shadow education: Evidence from secondary school students in China

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  • Dai, Chaonuo
  • Zhou, Yuzhi

Abstract

This paper studies the effects of academic rank and peer achievement on shadow education, such as private tutoring, among secondary students in China. Exploiting the random assignment of students to classrooms, we find that ranking higher relative to peers and better average peer achievement reduce shadow education participation, time use, and monetary expenditure. The effects of rank are more pronounced than peer achievement. Such rank and peer effects are mitigated when parents have imperfect information about a child’s performance, suggesting that educational policies reducing the visibility of precise rank information to parents may reduce the demand for shadow education.

Suggested Citation

  • Dai, Chaonuo & Zhou, Yuzhi, 2025. "Rank, peer achievement, and shadow education: Evidence from secondary school students in China," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:108:y:2025:i:c:s0272775725000627
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2025.102682
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    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities

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