Limited access Past event
Department of Economics Brown Bag with Professor Emilia Del Bono, University of Essex Beyond Test Scores: How Academic Rank Shapes Long-Term Outcomes
Abstract: We study the effects of academic rank using data on the entire population of children enrolled in Aberdeen's (Scotland) primary schools in 1962. Exploiting quasi-random variation in peer group composition, we estimate the causal impact of rank on academic performance, non-cognitive development, parental investment, and long-term outcomes. A higher rank improves achievement on the high-stakes 11-plus exam and enhances internalizing skills—traits linked to self-concept and confidence—suggesting that rank effects operate primarily through students' self-perception. Using a follow-up survey conducted 40 years later, we find that rank raises educational attainment, particularly for girls, but long-term income gains emerge only among boys. The gender gap in long-run effects likely reflects historical constraints on women's access to higher education and skilled employment during this period.