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The education revolution on horseback II : using the Napoleonic wars to elicit the effect of tracking on student performance

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  • Korthals, R.A.

    (Macro, International & Labour Economics)

Abstract

Previous literature has found inconsistent effects of tracking students in secondary school on student performance using various ways to alleviate the endogeneity in tracking. Sociological literature argues that the threat for war with and invasion by the French around the 1800s induced European countries to introduce mass public education systems. I use this theory to estimate the effect of tracking on student performance in Europe, instrumenting tracking by the political pressure caused by the Napoleonic Wars. The relation between political pressure by Napoleon and tracking is strong and leads in the second stage to a consistent positive effect of tracking on student performance. One important limitation of this analysis is that it is reasonable to assume that political pressure from Napoleon influenced many facets of European countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Korthals, R.A., 2016. "The education revolution on horseback II : using the Napoleonic wars to elicit the effect of tracking on student performance," Research Memorandum 015, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    • Handle: RePEc:unm:umagsb:2016015
    DOI: 10.26481/umagsb.2016015
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    8. Sari Pekkala Kerr & Tuomas Pekkarinen & Roope Uusitalo, 2013. "School Tracking and Development of Cognitive Skills," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 31(3), pages 577-602.
    9. Korthals, R.A., 2016. "The education revolution on horseback I : The relation between Napoleon Bonaparte and education system characteristics," Research Memorandum 014, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    10. van Elk, Roel & van der Steeg, Marc & Webbink, Dinand, 2011. "Does the timing of tracking affect higher education completion?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 1009-1021, October.
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    1. Korthals, R.A., 2016. "The education revolution on horseback I : The relation between Napoleon Bonaparte and education system characteristics," Research Memorandum 014, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).

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    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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