RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Effect of School Rank on Personality Traits
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 1187
OP 1225
DO 10.3368/jhr.56.4.1218-9916R2
VO 56
IS 4
A1 Pagani, Laura
A1 Comi, Simona
A1 Origo, Federica
YR 2021
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/56/4/1187.abstract
AB We study the effect of classroom rank on high school students’ Big Five personality traits. We exploit idiosyncratic differences in the class distribution of earlier academic achievement. Such differences generate quasi-random variation in class rank for students with the same initial achievement. We find a positive and sizeable effect of rank on conscientiousness, but we find no effects on the other four personality traits. A thorough analysis of the mechanism suggests that the primary channels through which class rank improves conscientiousness are perceived ability and academic motivation.