Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/263742 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 9812
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
We investigate the impact of the presence of university dropouts on the academic success of first-time students. Our identification strategy relies on quasi-random variation in the proportion of returning dropouts. The estimated average zero effect of dropouts on first-time students' success masks treatment heterogeneity and non-linearities. First, we find negative effects on the academic success of their new peers from dropouts re-enrolling in the same subject and, conversely, positive effects of dropouts changing subjects. Second, using causal machine learning methods, we find that the effects vary nonlinearly with different treatment intensities and prevailing treatment levels.
Subjects: 
university dropouts
peer effects
better prepared students
causal machine learning
JEL: 
A23
C14
I23
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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