The Economics of Age at School Entry: Insights from Evidence and Methods

Mariagrazia Cavallo, Elizabeth Dhuey, Luca Fumarco, Levi Halewyck and Simon ter Meulen

No 1707, GLO Discussion Paper Series from Global Labor Organization (GLO)

Abstract: This article reviews the growing literature on age at school entry (ASE) and its effects across the life course. ASE affects a wide range of outcomes, including education, labor-market performance, health, social relationships, and family formation. We synthesize the evidence using a conceptual framework that distinguishes four empirically intertwined ASE components: starting age, age at outcome, relative age, and time in school. While ASE effects are often substantial and persistent, many studies estimate bundled impacts without isolating specific components. A central lesson from the literature is that most estimated effects reflect bundled timing and institutional mechanisms rather than isolated maturity advantages, with interpretation depending on outcome construction and empirical design. We conclude by highlighting key gaps, particularly around relative age and long-run outcomes, and directions for future research.

Keywords: age at school entry; starting age; age at outcome; relative age; time in school; institutional mechanisms; quasi-experimental methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I21 I24 I31 J12 J13 J24 K42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu and nep-lma
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:glodps:1707

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