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  3. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
  4. October 2009
  5. The Effects of Peer Group Heterogeneity on the Production of Human Capital at West Point

The Effects of Peer Group Heterogeneity on the Production of Human Capital at West Point

  • David S. Lyle
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
vol. 1, no. 4, October 2009
(pp. 69-84)
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Abstract

Understanding how heterogeneity in peer group composition affects academic attainment has important implications for how schools organize students in group settings. The random assignment of cadets to companies at West Point affords an opportunity to investigate this issue empirically. Estimates of the impact of peer group heterogeneity in math SAT scores on freshmen-year academic performance reveals that more heterogeneous peer groups have positive effects on individual grades. High-ability peers account for most of the positive effect, while low-ability peers have no measureable effect. (JEL I23, J24, M54)

Citation

Lyle, David S. 2009. "The Effects of Peer Group Heterogeneity on the Production of Human Capital at West Point." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 1 (4): 69-84. DOI: 10.1257/app.1.4.69

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • I23 Higher Education and Research Institutions
  • J24 Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
  • M54 Personnel Economics: Labor Management
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