Speaking in Numbers: The Effect of Reading Performance on Math Performance Among Immigrants
19 Pages Posted: 2 Nov 2015 Last revised: 16 Apr 2023
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Speaking in Numbers: The Effect of Reading Performance on Math Performance Among Immigrants
Abstract
This paper is the first to estimate a causal effect of immigrant students' reading performance on their math performance. To overcome endogeneity issues due to unobserved ability, we apply an IV approach exploiting variation in age-at-arrival and the linguistic distance between origin and destination country languages. Using four PISA waves, we find a strong influence of reading performance on math performance, highlighting the importance of early language support for immigrants for their educational career.
Keywords: age-at-arrival, immigrants, linguistic distance, math performance, language, instrumental variable
JEL Classification: I21, I24, Z13
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