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Why Try? The Superstar Effect in Academic Performance

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  • Rey Hernández-Julián

    (Metropolitan State University of Denver)

  • Christina Peters

    (Metropolitan State University of Denver)

Abstract

Although the superstar effect has been documented in sports tournaments, there are few empirical tests outside sports. We estimate the impact of superstars in a classroom. We find that college students in a classroom with superior academic performers earn grades about 1% lower than when they are in classrooms without such outliers. Outliers at the bottom end of the distribution are also harmful. Since high achievers perform worse in the presence of outliers at both the top and low end of the academic distribution, we argue that the manipulation of incentives is the mechanism behind our estimated effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Rey Hernández-Julián & Christina Peters, 2022. "Why Try? The Superstar Effect in Academic Performance," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 48(1), pages 147-165, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:easeco:v:48:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1057_s41302-021-00197-5
    DOI: 10.1057/s41302-021-00197-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Deutscher, Christian & Neuberg, Lena & Thiem, Stefan, 2023. "Who’s afraid of the GOATs? - Shadow effects of tennis superstars," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Superstar effect; Academic performance; Inequality; Competition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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