Sitting Next to a Dropout: Academic Success of Students with More Educated Peers

46 Pages Posted: 22 Jun 2022

See all articles by Daniel Goller

Daniel Goller

University of Bern

Andrea Diem

University of St. Gallen

Stefan C. Wolter

Swiss Coordination Centre for Research in Education (SKBF); University of Bern - Department of Economics

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Abstract

We investigate the impact of the presence of university dropouts on the academic success of first-time students. Our identification strategy relies on quasi-random variation in the proportion of returning dropouts. The estimated average zero effect of dropouts on first- time students' success masks treatment heterogeneity and non-linearities. First, we find negative effects on the academic success of their new peers from dropouts re-enrolling in the same subject and, conversely, positive effects of dropouts changing subjects. Second, using causal machine learning methods, we find that the effects vary nonlinearly with different treatment intensities and prevailing treatment levels.

Keywords: university dropouts, peer effects, better prepared students, causal machine learning

JEL Classification: A23, C14, I23

Suggested Citation

Goller, Daniel and Diem, Andrea and Wolter, Stefan C., Sitting Next to a Dropout: Academic Success of Students with More Educated Peers. IZA Discussion Paper No. 15378, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4143222 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4143222

Daniel Goller (Contact Author)

University of Bern ( email )

Gesellschaftsstrasse 49
Bern, BERN 3001
Switzerland

Andrea Diem

University of St. Gallen

Bodanstrasse 8
SIAW-HSG
St.Gallen, 9000
Switzerland

Stefan C. Wolter

Swiss Coordination Centre for Research in Education (SKBF) ( email )

CH - 5000 Aarau
Switzerland
+41 62 835 23 90 (Phone)
+41 62 835 23 99 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.skbf-csre.ch

University of Bern - Department of Economics ( email )

Gesellschaftstrasse 49
Bern, CH-3012
Switzerland
+41 31 631 40 95 (Phone)
+41 31 631 39 92 (Fax)

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
32
Abstract Views
273
PlumX Metrics