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The COVID-19 pandemic: a threat to higher education? Evidence from a large university in Northern Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Bonaccolto-Töpfer, Marina

    (Department of Economics and Law, Kore University of Enna, Italy)

  • Castagnetti, Carolina

    (Department of Economics and Management, University of Pavia, Italy)

Abstract

"Transition to online teaching during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to various concerns about educational quality. The study investigates the consequences of this transition on student performance for a prominent university in Northern Italy. Comprehensive administrative data allows us to monitor students’ performance and to have detailed socioeconomic information About them. Using a difference-in-differences design with lecturer fixed effects, we exploit the unique timing of the lockdown that fell together with the start of the summer term in 2020. We find no marked effects on students’ average grades in higher education in the immediate aftermath of the lockdown." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

Suggested Citation

  • Bonaccolto-Töpfer, Marina & Castagnetti, Carolina, 2024. "The COVID-19 pandemic: a threat to higher education? Evidence from a large university in Northern Italy," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 58, pages 1-018.
    • Handle: RePEc:iab:iabjlr:v:58:i::p:a018
    DOI: 10.1186/s12651-024-00371-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Castagnetti, Carolina & Giorgetti, Maria Letizia, 2019. "Understanding the gender wage-gap differential between the public and private sectors in Italy: A quantile approach," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 240-261.
    2. George Bulman & Robert Fairlie, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Community College Enrollment and Student Success: Evidence from California Administrative Data," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 17(4), pages 745-764, Fall.
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    JEL classification:

    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality

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