The Making of Civic Virtues: A School-Based Experiment in Three Countries

Simon Briole, Marc Gurgand, Eric Maurin, Sandra McNally, Jenifer Ruiz-Valenzuela and Daniel Santín

American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 2025, vol. 17, issue 3, 496-521

Abstract: This paper shows that schools can foster the transmission of civic virtues by helping students to develop concrete, democratically chosen, collective projects. We draw on an RCT implemented in 200 middle schools in three countries. The program leads students to conduct citizenship projects in their communities under the supervision of teachers trained in the intervention. The intervention caused a decline in absenteeism and disciplinary sanctions at school, alongside improved academic achievement. It also led students to diversify their friendship network. The program has stronger effects when implemented by teachers who are initially more involved in the life of the school.

JEL-codes: I21 I26 I28 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Related works:
Working Paper: The Making of Civic Virtues: A School-Based Experiment in Three Countries (2025)
Working Paper: The Making of Civic Virtues: A School-Based Experiment in Three Countries (2025)
Working Paper: The Making of Civic Virtues: A School-Based Experiment in Three Countries (2025)
Working Paper: The Making of Civic Virtues: A School-Based Experiment in Three Countries (2024)
Working Paper: The Making of Civic Virtues: A School-Based Experiment in Three Countries (2024)
Working Paper: The making of civic virtues: a school-based experiment in three countries (2022)
Working Paper: The Making of Civic Virtues: A School-Based Experiment in Three Countries (2022)
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DOI: 10.1257/pol.20230612

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