Long-Term Effects of Class Size

S-Tier
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Economics
Year: 2013
Volume: 128
Issue: 1
Pages: 249-285

Score contribution per author:

2.681 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

This article evaluates the long-term effects of class size in primary school. We use rich data from Sweden and exploit variation in class size created by a maximum class size rule. Smaller classes in the last three years of primary school (age 10 to 13) are beneficial for cognitive and noncognitive ability at age 13, and improve achievement at age 16. Most important, we find that smaller classes have positive effects on completed education, wages, and earnings at age 27 to 42. The estimated wage effect is large enough to pass a cost-benefit test. JEL Codes: I21, I28, J24, C31. Copyright 2013, Oxford University Press.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:qjecon:v:128:y:2013:i:1:p:249-285
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25