The Effect of Age at School Entry on Educational and Labor Market Outcomes in Brazil: A Regression Discontinuity Analysis

B-Tier
Journal: Economic Development & Cultural Change
Year: 2025
Volume: 73
Issue: 2
Pages: 909 - 940

Authors (3)

Renato Herdeiro (not in RePEc) Alison Pablo Oliveira (not in RePEc) Naercio Menezes-Filho (Insper)

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We examine the effects of a delayed school entrance on years of schooling, college admission, and early labor market outcomes. Regression discontinuity design estimates reveal that students born immediately after the school entry cutoff date progress faster through the school years but attain the same average years of schooling at the end of the school cycle as those born just before the cutoff. Late school entrance increases the likelihood of college enrollment, does not impact formal sector employment, and decreases formal sector wages soon after school exit, but this effect disappears over time. The effects on school progression are larger for children who attended preschool, suggesting interactions between maturity and quality of early care as likely explanations for the faster learning among late entrants.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:ecdecc:doi:10.1086/730190
Journal Field
Development
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-26