Network Structure and Education Outcomes: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Bangladesh

Youjin Hahn, Asad Islam, Eleonora Patacchini and Yves Zenou

No 8872, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We study the causal impact of network centrality on educational outcomes using field experiments in primary schools in Bangladesh. After obtaining information on friendship networks, we randomly allocate students into groups and give them individual and group assignments. We find that groups that perform best are those whose members have high Katz-Bonacich and key-player centralities. Leaders are mostly responsible for this effect, while bad apples have little influence. Own Katz-Bonacich centrality is associated with better individual performance only if it is above the average centrality of the group. Further experiments reveal that leadership, as measured by network centrality, mainly captures non-cognitive skills, especially patience and competitiveness.

Keywords: social networks; centrality measures; leaders; soft skills (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A14 C93 D01 I20 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 75 pages
Date: 2015-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu, nep-exp, nep-soc and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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