This paper analyzes optimal grading in a world that focuses on top grades. Students choose an effort level, their … coarseness of the grading scale to maximize student welfare. When choosing their effort, students overweight outstanding -- or …

This paper analyzes grading competition between instructors of elective courses when students shop for high course …. First, the school caps top scores directly. Then, grading competition divides students into a concentrated group of … flexible curriculum. Hence, all students will prefer rigid curricula. Third, the school requires that the mean-score ceiling is …

This paper analyzes optimal grading in a world that focuses on top grades. Students choose an effort level, their … coarseness of the grading scale to maximize student welfare. When choosing their effort, students overweight outstanding - or …

We use rich microeconomic data on performance and choices of students at college entry to study the interaction between … which preferences and expectations of students are identified from data on choices and multiple exam grades. Counterfactuals … timing of choices and exams are shown to increase welfare. Redistribution among students or schools is sizeable in all …

students' perceptions. We find that the average perceived option value is 65% smaller than the average actual option value ($8 … policy implications related to college entrance, we do not find evidence that students understate the overall value of …

potentially more important - all students, even the more highly motivated ones, respond to lower tuition levels by decreasing … how high-subsidy, low-tuition policies have both disincentive effects on students' study time and adverse affects on human …