CLASS SIZE AND CLASS HETEROGENEITY

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: De Giorgi, Giacomo; Pellizzari, Michele; Woolston, William Gui
• 署名单位: Stanford University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1542-4766
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1542-4774.2012.01073.x
• 发表日期: 2012
• 页码: 795-830
• 关键词: school quality matter; student-achievement; identification; education; outcomes; returns

摘要

We study how class size and class composition affect the academic and labor market performance of college students, two crucial policy questions given the secular increase in college enrollment. Our identification strategy relies on the random assignment of students to teaching classes. We find that a one standard deviation increase in class-size results in a 0.1 standard deviation deterioration of the average grade. Further, the effect is heterogeneous as it is stronger for males and lower income students. Also, the effects of class composition in terms of gender and ability appear to be inverse U-shaped. Finally, a reduction of 20 students (one standard deviation) in ones class size has a positive effect on monthly wages of about 80 pound ($115) or 6% over the average.