TY - JOUR T1 - High-Ability Influencers? The Heterogeneous Effects of Gifted Classmates JF - Journal of Human Resources JO - J Hum Resour DO - 10.3368/jhr.58.4.0920-11170R1 SP - 0920-11170R1 AU - Simone Balestra AU - Aurélien Sallin AU - Stefan C. Wolter Y1 - 2021/02/10 UR - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2021/02/03/jhr.58.4.0920-11170R1.abstract N2 - We study the causal impact of intellectually gifted students on their nongifted classmates’ school achievement, enrollment in post-compulsory education, and occupational choices. Using student-level administrative and psychological data, we find a positive effect of exposure to gifted students on peers’ school achievement in both math and language. This impact is heterogeneous: larger effects are observed among male students and high achievers; female students benefit primarily from female gifted students; effects are driven by gifted students not diagnosed with emotional or behavioral disorders. Exposure to gifted students increases the likelihood of choosing a selective academic track and occupations in STEM fields. ER -