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Which factors determine academic performance of Economics freshers? Some Spanish evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Juan J. Dolado

    (Universidad Carlos III & CEPR & IZA)

  • Eduardo Morales

    (Harvard University)

Abstract

This paper analyses the impact of several factors potentially affecting academic performance of first-year undergraduates (freshers) in Economics at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid during 2002-2005. Outcomes are the grades obtained in three core subjects which differ substantially in their requirements of math skills. Our main finding is that those students who completed a technical track at high school tend to perform much better in math-intensive subjects than those who followed a social sciences track and that the latter do not perform better in subjects where prior training in economics is bound to be helpful.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan J. Dolado & Eduardo Morales, 2009. "Which factors determine academic performance of Economics freshers? Some Spanish evidence," Investigaciones Economicas, Fundación SEPI, vol. 33(2), pages 179-210, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:iec:inveco:v:33:y:2009:i:2:p:179-210
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Laura Mayoral & Evi Pappa, 2022. "Introduction to the special issue in honor of Juan Jose Dolado," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, May.
    2. Hidalgo-Hidalgo, Marisa & López-Pintado, Dunia, 2026. "Partner effects and collaborative learning," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    3. Carlos Arias & Javier Valbuena & Jose Manuel Garcia, 2021. "The Impact of Secondary Education Choices on Mathematical Performance in University: The Role of Non-Cognitive Skills," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(21), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Paul Tongkomah Saayir & Leticia Bosu, 2021. "Students’ Choice of Business Studies as Programme of study: The Case of Senior High Schools in the Wa Municipality," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 5(3), pages 491-498, March.
    5. Dino Alves & Ana Balcao Reis & Carmo Seabra & Luis Catela-Nunes, 2015. "Determinants of Academic Success in Economics and Management," Investigaciones de Economía de la Educación volume 10, in: Marta Rahona López & Jennifer Graves (ed.), Investigaciones de Economía de la Educación 10, edition 1, volume 10, chapter 17, pages 335-356, Asociación de Economía de la Educación.
    6. Cristina Lopez-Mayan, 2013. "Performance in Post-compulsory Education: Evidence from Vocational and Academic Tracks," Working Papers wpdea1302, Department of Applied Economics at Universitat Autonoma of Barcelona.
    7. Azar, Paola & Machado, Alina, 2026. "Gender gaps in career opportunities: a look at graduates in the field of business and economics in Uruguay," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 60, pages 1-002.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I29 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Other

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