Research Seminar: Giuseppe Sorrenti (University of Amsterdam)

Title: "The Causal Impact of Socio-Emotional Skills Training on Educational Success"

  • Date: 14 March 2023 from 12:00 to 13:15

  • Event location: Seminar Room - Piazza Scaravilli, 2 + Microsoft Teams Meeting

Abstract

We study the long-term effects of a randomized intervention targeting children's socio-emotional skills. The classroom-based intervention for primary school children has positive impacts that persist for over a decade. Treated children become more likely to complete academic high school and enroll in university. Two mechanisms drive these results. Treated children show fewer ADHD symptoms: they are less impulsive and less disruptive. They also attain higher grades, but they do not score higher on standardized tests. The long-term effects on educational attainment thus appear to be driven by changes in socio-emotional skills rather than cognitive skills.

[The paper is joint with Manuel Eisner, Denis Ribeaud and Ulf Zölitz]

Invited by: Household/Education group

Local Organizer: Stefania Bortolotti