The younger, the better? Age-related differences in academic performance at university

Journal of Population Economics - Tập 25 - Trang 697-739 - 2011
Michele Pellizzari1,2,3,4,5, Francesco C. Billari2,4,6
1Department of Economics, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
2IGIER, Milan, Italy
3IZA, Bonn, Germany
4“Carlo F. Dondena” Centre for Research on Social Dynamics, Milan, Italy
5Fondazione Rodolfo Debenedetti, Milan, Italy
6Department of Policy Analysis and Public Management, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy

Tóm tắt

In this paper, we investigate differences in academic performance among students of different ages within the same cohorts using a unique database of students at Bocconi University. Our data allow to control for potential selection effects as well as for differences in cognitive ability, as measured by an attitudinal entry test. Contrary to most of the existing evidence for younger pupils, we document that at the undergraduate level, youngest students perform better compared with their oldest peers. This finding is only partly explained by differences in cognitive ability and rather seems to be associated with differences in social activities.

Tài liệu tham khảo

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