Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Automatic Grade Promotion And Student Performance: Evidence From Brazil, Martin Foureaux Koppensteiner
Automatic Grade Promotion And Student Performance: Evidence From Brazil, Martin Foureaux Koppensteiner
Martin Foureaux Koppensteiner
This paper examines the effect of the introduction of automatic grade promotion on student performance in 1,993 public primary schools in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. A difference-in-difference approach that exploits variation over time in the adoption of the policy allows the identification of the treatment effect of automatic promotion. I find a negative and significant effect of about 6% of a standard deviation on math test scores. Under plausible identifying assumptions the estimates can be interpreted as the disincentive effect on student effort associated with the introduction of automatic promotion.