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Using Maimonides' Rule to Estimate the Effect of Class Size on Scholastic Achievement (1999)
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| Venue: | Quarterly Journal of Economics |
| Citations: | 581 - 40 self |
BibTeX
@ARTICLE{Angrist99usingmaimonides',
author = {Joshua D. Angrist and Victor Lavy},
title = {Using Maimonides' Rule to Estimate the Effect of Class Size on Scholastic Achievement},
journal = {Quarterly Journal of Economics},
year = {1999}
}
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Abstract
The twelfth century rabbinic scholar Maimonides proposed a maximum class size of 40. This same maximum induces a nonlinear and nonmonotonic relationship between grade enrollment and class size in Israeli public schools today. Maimonides ’ rule of 40 is used here to construct instrumental variables estimates of effects of class size on test scores. The resulting identi�cation strategy can be viewed as an application of Donald Campbell’s regression-discontinuity design to the class-size question. The estimates show that reducing class size induces a signi�cant and substantial increase in test scores for fourth and �fth graders, although not for third graders. When asked about their views on class size in surveys, parents and teachers generally report that they prefer smaller classes. This may be because those involved with teaching believe that smaller classes promote student learning, or simply because smaller classes offer a more pleasant environment for the pupils and teachers who are in them [Mueller, Chase, and Walden 1988].
Keyphrases
class size scholastic achievement test score instrumental variable estimate maimonides rule nonmonotonic relationship fth grader pleasant environment identi cation strategy student learning maximum induces class-size question third grader donald campbell substantial increase maximum class size signi cant grade enrollment israeli public school today twelfth century rabbinic scholar maimonides regression-discontinuity design
