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The Good, the Bad, and the Average: Evidence on Ability Peer Effects in Schools

Author Info

Listed author(s):
  • Victor Lavy
  • Olmo Silva
  • Felix Weinhardt

Abstract

We study ability peer effects in English secondary schools using data on four cohorts of students taking age-14 national tests and measuring peers' ability by prior achievements at age 11. Our identification is based on within-pupil regressions exploiting variation in achievements across three compulsory subjects tested at age 14 and age 11. Using this novel strategy, we find significant and sizable negative effects arising from bad peers at the bottom of the ability distribution but little evidence that average peer quality and good peers matter. However, these results are heterogeneous, with girls benefiting from academically bright peers and boys not.

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File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/663592
Download Restriction: Access to the online full text or PDF requires a subscription.
File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/663592
Download Restriction: Access to the online full text or PDF requires a subscription.

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Article provided by University of Chicago Press in its journal Journal of Labor Economics.

Volume (Year): 30 (2012)
Issue (Month): 2 ()
Pages: 367-414

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Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/663592
Contact details of provider: Web page: http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/JOLE/

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