The Consequences of Letter Grades for Labor Market Outcomes and Student Behavior

• 成果类型: Article; Early Access
• 署名作者: Tan, Brandon Joel
• 署名单位: Harvard University; National University of Singapore
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF LABOR ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0734-306X
• DOI: 10.1086/719994
• 发表日期: 2023
• 关键词: signaling value; school; INFORMATION; GENDER

摘要

I study the consequences of letter grades serving as coarse measures of academic achievement using university administrative data that record both the letter grade and the precise mark (0-100) received for each course that a given student takes. I exploit a regression discontinuity design with marks as the running variable. I find that receiving a better grade in a single class results in USD 32 greater monthly earnings after graduation, a 1.4% increase. I also find that marginal students who receive a worse grade take significantly easier courses and earn lower grades in future semesters.