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Speaking in numbers: The effect of reading performance on math performance among immigrants

Author

Listed:
  • Isphording, Ingo E.
  • Piopiunik, Marc
  • Rodríguez-Planas, Núria

Abstract

This paper is the first to estimate a causal effect of immigrant students' reading performance on their math performance. To overcome endogeneity issues due to unobserved ability, we apply an IV approach exploiting variation in age-at-arrival and the linguistic distance between origin and destination country languages. Using four PISA waves, we find a strong influence of reading performance on math performance, highlighting the importance of early language support for immigrants for their educational career. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Suggested Citation

  • Isphording, Ingo E. & Piopiunik, Marc & Rodríguez-Planas, Núria, 2016. "Speaking in numbers: The effect of reading performance on math performance among immigrants," Munich Reprints in Economics 43490, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:lmu:muenar:43490
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    Cited by:

    1. Lorenzo Cappellari & Antonio di Paolo & Thompson Ogajah Tawiah, 2026. "Linguistic Distance and Job Quality in a Bilingual Labour Market," DISCE - Working Papers del Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza def151, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimenti e Istituti di Scienze Economiche (DISCE).
    2. Mariagrazia Cavallo & Giuseppe Russo, 2020. "Reading Performance and Math Performance of Second-Generation Children in Italy," CSEF Working Papers 554, Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), University of Naples, Italy.
    3. Vonnahme, Christina, 2021. "Do migrant-native achievement gaps narrow? Evidence over the school career," Ruhr Economic Papers 932, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    4. Russell, Helen & McGinnity, Frances & Darmody, Merike, 2022. "Children of migrants in Ireland: How are they faring?," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS134.
    5. Abatemarco, Antonio & Cavallo, Mariagrazia & Marino, Immacolata & Russo, Giuseppe, 2021. "Age Effects in Education: A Double Disadvantage for Second-Generation Immigrant Children," GLO Discussion Paper Series 761, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    6. Lorenzo Cappellari & Antonio Di Paolo & Thompson Ogajah Tawiah, 2026. "“Linguistic Distance and Job Quality in a Bilingual Labour Market”," AQR Working Papers 202604, University of Barcelona, Regional Quantitative Analysis Group, revised Mar 2026.
    7. Galloway, Taryn Ann & Gjefsen, Hege Marie, 2020. "Assimilation of immigrants: Does earlier school exposure matter?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    8. José M. Cordero & Víctor Cristóbal & Daniel Santín, 2018. "Causal Inference On Education Policies: A Survey Of Empirical Studies Using Pisa, Timss And Pirls," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(3), pages 878-915, July.
    9. Chevalier, Arnaud & Isphording, Ingo E. & Lisauskaite, Elena, 2020. "Peer diversity, college performance and educational choices," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    10. Agarwal, Sandip K. & Dutta, Souvik & Naha, Maharnab, 2025. "Impact of breaking the language barrier on school education — Evidence from West Bengal in India," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    11. Rodríguez-Planas, Núria & Nollenberger, Natalia, 2018. "Let the girls learn! It is not only about math … it's about gender social norms," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 230-253.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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