Who is sitting next to you? Peer effects inside the classroom

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Hong, Sok Chul; Lee, Jungmin
• 署名单位: Seoul National University (SNU); IZA Institute Labor Economics
• 刊物名称: QUANTITATIVE ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1759-7323
• DOI: 10.3982/QE434
• 发表日期: 2017
• 页码: 239-275
• 关键词: Peer effect; classroom seating rule; academic performance; college students; IV quantile regression; personality

摘要

We examine college students' interaction within classrooms and estimate peer effects on their academic performance. We exploit a unique seating rule at a university in South Korea, known as the fixed-seat system. We propose a novel identification strategy based on students' repeated interaction. Our findings show that a student's performance in a class is significantly influenced by his or her next-seat neighbor's ability. The effect is heterogeneous, varying by student and class characteristics. Also quantile regressions reveal that peer effects are significant among below-average students and among those at the top end.