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Matching mechanisms and matching quality: Evidence from a top university in China

Binzhen Wu () and Xiaohan Zhong

Games and Economic Behavior, 2014, vol. 84, issue C, 196-215

Abstract: We compare competing college admission matching mechanisms that differ in preference submission timing (pre-exam, post-exam but pre-score, or post-score) and in matching procedure (Boston (BOS) and serial dictatorship (SD) matching). Pre-exam submission asks students to submit college preferences before entrance exam scores are known, whereas post-score (post-exam) submission removes (reduces) score uncertainties. Theoretical analyses show that although mechanisms with post-score submission or SD matching are ex-post fair and efficient, they are not so ex-ante. Instead, the mechanism with pre-exam submission and BOS matching can be more fair and efficient ex-ante. These hypotheses are supported by empirical test on data from a top school at a top-ranked Chinese university with identification based on temporal and provincial changes. We find that although students admitted under the pre-exam BOS mechanism have lower college entrance exam scores than students admitted through other mechanisms on average, they exhibit similar or even better college academic performance.

Keywords: School choice; Matching quality; College admission; Boston matching; Serial dictatorship matching (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C78 D61 D78 I28 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:gamebe:v:84:y:2014:i:c:p:196-215

DOI: 10.1016/j.geb.2013.12.009

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