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The evolution of the gender test score gap through seventh grade: new insights from Australia using unconditional quantile regression and decomposition

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  • Huong Thu Le

    (Queensland University of Technology
    University of Western Australia)

  • Ha Trong Nguyen

    (Curtin University)

Abstract

This paper documents the patterns and examines the factors contributing to a gender gap in educational achievements in early seventh grade of schooling using a recent and nationally representative panel of Australian children. Regression results indicate that females excel at non-numeracy subjects at later grades whereas males outperform females in numeracy in all grades, whether at the mean or along the distribution of the test score. Our results also reveal a widening gender test score gap in numeracy as students advance their schooling. Regression and decomposition results also highlight the importance of controlling for pre-school cognitive skills in examining the gender test score gap.

Suggested Citation

  • Huong Thu Le & Ha Trong Nguyen, 2018. "The evolution of the gender test score gap through seventh grade: new insights from Australia using unconditional quantile regression and decomposition," IZA Journal of Labor Economics, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 7(1), pages 1-42, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:izalbr:v:7:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1186_s40172-018-0062-y
    DOI: 10.1186/s40172-018-0062-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Ha Trong Nguyen & Luke B. Connelly & Huong Thu Le & Francis Mitrou & Catherine L. Taylor & Stephen R. Zubrick, 2020. "Ethnicity differentials in academic achievements: the role of time investments," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 33(4), pages 1381-1418, October.
    2. Munir, Farzana & Winter-Ebmer, Rudolf, 2018. "Decomposing international gender test score differences," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 52(1), pages 1-12.
    3. Nguyen, Ha Trong & Connelly, Luke & Le, Huong Thu & Mitrou, Francis & Taylor, Catherine & Zubrick, Stephen, 2018. "Explaining the evolution of ethnicity differentials in academic achievements: The role of time investments," MPRA Paper 90534, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Eric R. Nielsen, 2019. "Test Questions, Economic Outcomes, and Inequality," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2019-013, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    5. Nguyen, Ha Trong & Le, Huong Thu & Connelly, Luke B., 2018. "Rain, rain, go away: Weather and children’s time allocation," MPRA Paper 85731, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Nguyen, Ha Trong & Brinkman, Sally & Le, Huong Thu & Zubrick, Stephen R. & Mitrou, Francis, 2022. "Gender differences in time allocation contribute to differences in developmental outcomes in children and adolescents," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    7. Paterson, Molly & Parasnis, Jaai & Rendall, Michelle, 2022. "Gender, Income, and Numeracy Test Scores," CEPR Discussion Papers 16895, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Nguyen, Ha Trong & Connelly, Luke & Le, Huong Thu & Mitrou, Francis & Taylor, Catherine L. & Zubrick, Stephen R., 2019. "Sources of ethnicity differences in non-cognitive development in children and adolescents," EconStor Preprints 205801, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    9. Paterson, Molly, 2021. "Gender and Disadvantage in the Evolution of Test Score Gaps," Warwick-Monash Economics Student Papers 06, Warwick Monash Economics Student Papers.
    10. Romuald Foueka, 2020. "Analyse du différentiel de performances scolaires dans les pays PASEC sur la base de la régression quantile contrefactuelle," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 32(4), pages 605-618, December.
    11. Laura Desirée Vernier Fujita & Izete Pengo Bagolin & Adelar Fochezatto, 2021. "Spatial distribution and dissemination of education in Brazilian municipalities," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 66(2), pages 255-277, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gender; Education; Quantile regression; Decomposition; Australia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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