@article{c4fed02b74274f1ca440db23eec2550b,
title = "Can small class policy close the gap? An empirical analysis of class size effects in Japan",
abstract = "Can smaller classes lead to better educational outcomes and greater equality in achievement? We estimate the causal effects of class size on achievement tests by using discontinuous changes in class size under the Japanese public compulsory education system. We employ a value-added model that uses achievement tests conducted at two different times during the same school year. Our results show that a reduction in class size has significantly positive effects on Japanese language test scores in the sixth grade, especially at schools in wealthy areas. However, we find no evidence that a universal small class policy closes the achievement gap among schools.",
author = "Hideo Akabayashi and Ryosuke Nakamura",
note = "Funding Information: We would like to thank the city of Yokohama for generously providing us with test score data. Mr Hiroaki Kitajima provided us with detailed information on the local class size rules inYokohama City. We are also grateful to a referee, Souich Ohta, and those who participated in seminars at Keio University, the 2011 Japanese Economic Association Spring Meeting, 2011 Labor Economics Conference (Awajishima), Hitotsubashi University, and MEXT. This research was financially supported by Keio University, a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A 20243020 and A 24330090: Akabayashi), a Grant-in-Aid for the Global COE Program “Raising Market Quality-Integrated Design of Market Infrastructure”, and a Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows (Nakamura). The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the organizations mentioned above. Any remaining errors are our own.",
year = "2014",
month = sep,
doi = "10.1111/jere.12017",
language = "English",
volume = "65",
pages = "253--281",
journal = "Japanese Economic Review",
issn = "1352-4739",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "3",
}