TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of high stakes high school achievement awards
T2 - Evidence from a randomized trial
AU - Angrist, Joshua
AU - Lavy, Victor
PY - 2009/9
Y1 - 2009/9
N2 - The Israeli matriculation certificate is a prerequisite for most postsecondary schooling. In a randomized trial, we attempted to increase certification rates among low-achievers with cash incentives. The experiment used a school-based randomization design offering awards to all who passed their exams in treated schools. This led to a substantial increase in certification rates for girls but had no effect on boys. Affected girls had a relatively high ex ante chance of certification. The increase in girls' matriculation rates translated into an increased likelihood of college attendance. Female matriculation rates increased partly because treated girls devoted extra time to exam preparation. (JEL I21, I28, J16).
AB - The Israeli matriculation certificate is a prerequisite for most postsecondary schooling. In a randomized trial, we attempted to increase certification rates among low-achievers with cash incentives. The experiment used a school-based randomization design offering awards to all who passed their exams in treated schools. This led to a substantial increase in certification rates for girls but had no effect on boys. Affected girls had a relatively high ex ante chance of certification. The increase in girls' matriculation rates translated into an increased likelihood of college attendance. Female matriculation rates increased partly because treated girls devoted extra time to exam preparation. (JEL I21, I28, J16).
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=65949091415&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1257/aer.99.4.1384
DO - 10.1257/aer.99.4.1384
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AN - SCOPUS:65949091415
SN - 0002-8282
VL - 99
SP - 1384
EP - 1414
JO - American Economic Review
JF - American Economic Review
IS - 4
ER -
