Do Peers Affect Student Achievement? Evidence from Canada Using Group Size Variation

Vincent Boucher, Yann Bramoullé, Habiba Djebbari and Bernard Fortin ()

No 4723, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We provide the first empirical application of a new approach proposed by Lee (2007) to estimate peer effects in a linear-in-means model. This approach allows to control for group-level unobservables and to solve the reflection problem. We investigate peer effects in student achievement in Mathematics, Science, French and History in Quebec secondary schools. We estimate the model using maximum likelihood and instrumental variables methods. We find evidence of peer effects. The endogenous peer effect is positive, when significant, and some contextual peer effects matter. Using calibrated Monte Carlo simulations, we find that high dispersion in group sizes helps with potential issues of weak identification.

Keywords: reflection problem; peer effects; student achievement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C31 I20 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 37 pages
Date: 2010-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-ecm, nep-edu, nep-lab and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

Published - revised version published in: Journal of Applied Econometrics, 2014, 29 (1), 91-109

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Related works:
Journal Article: DO PEERS AFFECT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT? EVIDENCE FROM CANADA USING GROUP SIZE VARIATION (2014)
Working Paper: Do Peers Affect Student Achievement ? Evidence from Canada Using Group Size Variation (2014)
Working Paper: Do Peers Affect Student Achievement? Evidence from Canada Using Group Size Variation (2012)
Working Paper: Do Peers Affect Student Achievement? Evidence from Canada Using Group Size Variation (2010)
Working Paper: Do Peers Affect Student Achievement? Evidence from Canada Using Group Size Variation (2010)
Working Paper: Do Peers Affect Student Achievement? Evidence from Canada Using Group Size Variation (2010)
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