Early Tracking and the Misfortune of Being Young |
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Authors: | Nicole Schneeweis Martina Zweimüller |
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Affiliation: | University of Linz, , A‐4040 Linz, Austria |
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Abstract: | Recent research suggests that the relative age of a student within a grade has a causal effect on educational achievement, and that this effect fades with the duration of schooling. In this study, we estimate the causal relative‐age effect on track choice in Austria, a country where students are first tracked in grade 5 (at the age of 10 years), and again in grade 9. We find a strong positive relative‐age effect on track choice in grades 5–8. The age effect persists beyond grade 8 for students from less‐favorable socioeconomic backgrounds and students in urban areas. |
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Keywords: | Educational tracking relative‐age effect school choice socioeconomic gradient I21 I24 I28 |
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