Maresa Sprietsma

Effect of relative age in the first grade of primary school on long-term scholastic results: international comparative evidence using PISA 2003

In this paper, we estimate the effect of pupil’s relative age within the first grade of primary school on mathematics and reading test scores at age 15. The main objective is to evaluate the long‐term causal effect of relative age in the first grades of primary school on pupil’s test in 16 different countries. We use the national rule for admission to primary school to construct the predicted relative age of each pupil. We find that relative age at the start of primary school has a significant positive effect on test scores in about one‐half of the considered countries and regions. Moreover, we identify some of the channels through which the effect occurs.

The effects of the bologna process on college enrollment and drop-out rates

This paper estimates the short-term effects of the introduction of the Bachelor degree in the framework of the Bologna Process on college enrollment and drop-out rates. We use variation in the timing of the Bachelor implementation at the department level to identify the effect of the reform based on longitudinal administrative student data from Germany. We find no significant effects on college enrollment or drop-out rates for most subjects.

The effects of the introduction of Bachelor degrees on college enrollment and dropout rates

We estimate the short-term effects of the introduction of the Bachelor degree system in Germany, a change in degree regulations such that students need less time to earn a first degree, on college enrollment and dropout rates. We use variation in the timing of the reform at the university department level to identify the effects of the reform based on longitudinal administrative student data. Results differ between subjects, but for most subjects we find no significant effects on college enrollment or dropout rates.

Explaining the persisting mathematics test score gap between boys and girls

This paper provides evidence on the sources of the persisting mathematics test score gap between boys and girls. In particular, we investigate the role of the share of female mathematics teachers in secondary school and of pupils self-confidence and extrinsic motivation in mathematics. We find that the share of female mathematics teachers does not seem to affect differences in test scores between boys and girls. The number of books at home as well as the included psychological factors significantly reduce the gender test score gap. A remaining gap of 14% of a standard deviation in test scores is unexplained.

Which Incentives to Increase Survey Response of Secondary School Pupils

Increasing participation rates in pupil surveys has become an important challenge for empirical educational research. In this paper we investigate whether combining a monetary incentive with a personalised invitation to participate in a survey increases the response rate of secondary school pupils. It is found that pupils who receive a personalised invitation and a monetary incentive are not more likely to participate, nor to participate more quickly following the invitation, than those who received a nonpersonalised invitation and a monetary incentive.

Does it pay to move? Returns to regional mobility at the start of the career for tertiary education graduates

Decisions taken at the start of ones career have long-term consequences and one important decision graduates have to make is whether to be regionally mobile when looking for the first job. We investigate whether being regionally mobile for the first job following graduation rather than to stay in the place of graduation pays off. Existing research on regional mobility mostly focuses on job-to-job mobility. We analyse the determinants of early career mobility and estimate a bivariate probit model to account for the dependency between the migration decisions for tertiary education and for the first job. In order to account for self-selection with respect to migration decisions, we exploit variation in the availability of university places at the regional level. Our results show that there is significant dependency between migration decisions made before and after tertiary education. Secondly, using an IV estimation strategy, we find significantly positive wage returns to regional mobility for the first job.

Peer effects in language training for migrants

We investigate the effect of peer group composition on language improvement in language classes for adults. Using unique survey data of migrants participating in an intensive language course in Germany, we find that the age and skill composition of groups affect skill acquisition as assessed by the teacher. Moreover, groups that are more heterogenuous in terms of regions of origin on average obtain improvements in language skills with a higher probability.

Student Employment: Advantage or Handicap for Academic Achievement?

We estimate the effects of student employment on academic performance. Performance is measured by grades achieved one and a half years after entering university. We use the amount of financial aid students receive after application as a source of exogenous variation in the probability or being employed to correct for potential endogeneity bias. We find no evidence that student employment is detrimental to academic performance, even for a larger number of hours worked per week. There is significant selection of students into different types of student employment.