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Decomposing Ethnic Differences in University Academic Achievement in New Zealand

Author

Listed:
  • Zhaoyi Cao
  • Tim Maloney

    (School of Economics, Faculty of Business, Economics, and Law, Auckland Univeristy of Technology)

Abstract
We use individual-level administrative data to examine the extent and potential explanations for the poorer academic performance of three ethnic minority groups in their first year of study at a New Zealand university. Substantial differences in course completion rates and letter grades are found for Māori, Pasifika and Asian students relative to their European counterparts. These large and significant gaps persist in the face of alternative definitions of ethnicity and sample restrictions. We use regression analysis and formal decomposition techniques to test whether differences in other personal characteristics, high school backgrounds and university enrollment patterns might account for these ethnic disparities in early academic achievement. We estimate that no more than one-quarter of the relatively poorer performance of Māori and Pasifika students would be eliminated if they had the same relevant observable factors of European students. These substantial unexplained ethnic differences in early academic performance at university raise concerns about appropriate policies to close ethnic gaps in academic achievement at university.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhaoyi Cao & Tim Maloney, 2017. "Decomposing Ethnic Differences in University Academic Achievement in New Zealand," Working Papers 2017-02, Auckland University of Technology, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:aut:wpaper:201702
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    File URL: https://www.aut.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/107882/Economics-WP-2017-02.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bai Juhong & Tim Maloney, 2006. "Ethnicity and academic success at university," New Zealand Economic Papers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(2), pages 181-213.
    2. Rask, Kevin, 2010. "Attrition in STEM fields at a liberal arts college: The importance of grades and pre-collegiate preferences," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(6), pages 892-900, December.
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    8. Cyrenne, Philippe & Chan, Alan, 2012. "High school grades and university performance: A case study," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 524-542.
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    10. Douglas S. Massey, 2006. "Social Background and Academic Performance Differentials: White and Minority Students at Selective Colleges," American Law and Economics Review, American Law and Economics Association, vol. 8(2), pages 390-409.
    11. Oaxaca, Ronald, 1973. "Male-Female Wage Differentials in Urban Labor Markets," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 14(3), pages 693-709, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marco Centoni & Vieri Del Panta & Antonello Maruotti & Valentina Raponi, 2019. "Concomitant-Variable Latent-Class Beta Inflated Models to Assess Students’ Performance: An Italian Case Study," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 146(1), pages 7-18, November.
    2. Lisa Meehan & Gail Pacheco & Zoe Pushon, 2017. "Explaining ethnic disparities in bachelor’s degree participation: Evidence from NZ," Working Papers 2017-03, Auckland University of Technology, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Higher Education; University Academic Achievement; Ethnic Differences or Disparities; Decomposition Techniques; New Zealand;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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