Working Paper: NBER ID: w16405
Authors: Giacomo De Giorgi; Michele Pellizzari; William Gui Woolston
Abstract: 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 one's class size has a positive effect on monthly wages of about 80 Euros (115 USD) \nor 6% over the average.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: A22; I23; J30
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Class Size (I21) | Average Grades (C29) |
| Class Composition (Gender, Ability) (J16) | Academic Performance (D29) |
| Class Composition (A30) | Average Grades (C29) |
| Class Composition (A30) | Monthly Wages (J31) |
| Class Size (I21) | Average Grades (C29) |
| Class Size (I21) | Monthly Wages (J31) |