Tower of Babel in the Classroom: Immigrants and Natives in Italian Schools

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Labor Economics
Year: 2018
Volume: 36
Issue: 4
Pages: 885 - 921

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

We exploit rules of class formation to identify the causal effect of increasing the number of immigrants in a classroom on natives’ test scores, keeping class size and quality of the two types of students constant (pure ethnic composition [PEC] effect). We explain why this is a relevant policy parameter although it has been neglected so far. The PEC effect is sizable and negative (16% of a standard deviation) on language and math scores. For first-generation immigrants, it is more negative (30% of a standard deviation). Estimates that cannot control for endogenous adjustments implemented by principals are instead considerably smaller.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/697524
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-24