Automatic grade promotion and student performance: Evidence from Brazil

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Koppensteiner, Martin Foureaux
• 署名单位: University of Leicester
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2013.12.007
• 发表日期: 2014
• 页码: 277-290
• 关键词: grade retention; Automatic promotion; Incentives to learn; Primary education; BRAZIL

摘要

This paper examines the effect of automatic grade promotion on academic achievement in 1993 public primary schools in Brazil. A difference-in-differences approach that exploits variation over time and across schools in the grade promotion regime allows the identification of the treatment effect of automatic promotion. I find a negative and significant effect of about 7% of a standard deviation on math test scores. I provide evidence in support of the interpretation of the estimates as a disincentive effect of automatic promotion. The findings contribute to the understanding of retention policies by focussing on the ex-ante effect of repetition and are important for more complete cost-benefit considerations of grade retention. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.