The Impact of Talented Peers: Evidence from Exposure to Math Award Winners

Rigissa Megalokonomou, Michael Vlassopoulos and Yves Zenou

No 20351, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: We study how public recognition of academic talent affects peers' academic outcomes and university choices. Using unique data on national award winners from the Hellenic Mathematical Society linked to administrative records, we estimate the causal impact of exposure to a publicly recognized high-achiever within a student’s school or classroom. Identification relies on (i) across-cohort variation within schools, comparing cohorts with and without an award winner, and (ii) quasi-random classroom assignment, comparing classrooms with and without a randomly assigned math award winner within school-cohorts. We find that exposure to a male award winner improves male peers’ outcomes: performance rises by 4.5\% of a standard deviation on standardized exams, and STEM and academic university enrollments increase by 3 and 1.4 percentage points, respectively. Female peers show no overall gains, though math scores improve in a representative subsample. Spillovers are strongest in subjects related to the winner’s strength and are amplified by classroom proximity, suggesting that closer interaction enhances the effects.

JEL-codes: I24 J16 J21 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-06
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