Do social interactions in the classroom improve academic attainment?

This is a revision, version 2, revising author.

George Washington University and Temple University, USA

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Lack of consensus on the size of peer effect

Key findings


Peer effects are important for student academic achievement throughout all levels of education.

Evidence suggests that the impact of peers is different for students of differing abilities.

Peer effects are heterogeneous: evidence suggests that low-achieving students benefit most by being placed in a class-room with high-achieving peers.

A higher proportion of girls in the classroom raises student attainment for both boys and girls.


There is still disagreement among economists about the magnitude and shape (i.e. linear or non-linear) of peer effects.

It is challenging to isolate peer effects from other factors that affect student attainment, such as family background, teacher quality, or other institutional factors.

Little is known about the mechanisms through which peer effects work.

Given the heterogeneous nature of peer effects, it is difficult to design a single optimal policy to raise student attainment.

Author's main message

Peer effects in education matter for students’ achievement and, hence, for their success later in life. However, economists still disagree about the magnitude and shape of these effects and there is little evidence about the channels through which they might work. The contrasting nature of some research highlights a clear need for further investigation into these key areas. Nonetheless, interventions that manipulate student group composition in ways that improve the educational outcomes of low-achieving students may offer policy options that can simultaneously enhance welfare and reduce inequality.

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