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Research ArticleArticle

Multigrading and Child Achievement

Gian Paolo Barbetta, Giuseppe Sorrenti and Gilberto Turati
Published online before print September 16, 2019, 0118-9310R4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.56.3.0118-9310R4
Gian Paolo Barbetta
Gian Paolo Barbetta is Professor of Economic Policy at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan (IT). Giuseppe Sorrenti is Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Zürich and Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, Zurich (CH). Gilberto Turati is Professor of Public Finance at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome (IT).
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Giuseppe Sorrenti
Gian Paolo Barbetta is Professor of Economic Policy at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan (IT). Giuseppe Sorrenti is Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Zürich and Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, Zurich (CH). Gilberto Turati is Professor of Public Finance at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome (IT).
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Gilberto Turati
Gian Paolo Barbetta is Professor of Economic Policy at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan (IT). Giuseppe Sorrenti is Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Zürich and Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, Zurich (CH). Gilberto Turati is Professor of Public Finance at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome (IT).
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Abstract

We study how multigrading, which is mixing students of different grades into a single class, affects children’s cognitive achievement in primary school. We build instruments to identify the causal effect of multigrading by exploiting an Italian law that controls class size and grade composition. Results suggest that attendance in multigrade versus single-grade classes increases students’ performance on standardized tests by 19 percent of a standard deviation for second graders, and it has zero effect for fifth graders. The positive impact of multigrading for second graders appears to be driven by children sharing their class with peers from higher grades. This last finding rationalizes the absence of a multigrade effect for fifth graders.

JEL codes
  • I26
  • I28
  • R53

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Journal of Human Resources: 60 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 60, Issue 3
1 May 2025
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Multigrading and Child Achievement
Gian Paolo Barbetta, Giuseppe Sorrenti, Gilberto Turati
Journal of Human Resources Sep 2019, 0118-9310R4; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.56.3.0118-9310R4

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Multigrading and Child Achievement
Gian Paolo Barbetta, Giuseppe Sorrenti, Gilberto Turati
Journal of Human Resources Sep 2019, 0118-9310R4; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.56.3.0118-9310R4
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Keywords

  • I26
  • I28
  • R53
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