%0 Journal Article %A Simone Balestra %A Aurélien Sallin %A Stefan C. Wolter %T High-Ability Influencers? The Heterogeneous Effects of Gifted Classmates %D 2021 %R 10.3368/jhr.58.4.0920-11170R1 %J Journal of Human Resources %P 0920-11170R1 %X 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. %U https://jhr.uwpress.org/content/wpjhr/early/2021/02/03/jhr.58.4.0920-11170R1.full.pdf