Award for the Best Dissertation in Economics of Education
The VfS Standing Field Committee on Economics of Education has awarded Benjamin Arold (University of Basel) for the best dissertation in the field of education economics in 2021/2022. Congratulations!
On the influence of school curricula on educational and life paths: Best dissertation on the economics of education
Basel/Munich, March 9, 2023: The Standing Field Committee on Economics of Education of the Verein für Socialpolitik, the association of German-speaking economists, has honored Benjamin Arold in Basel for the best dissertation in education economics in 2021/2022. Mr. Arold analyzes the effects of curricula on the further development of school students. The award money of 2,000 euros is provided by the Roland Berger Foundation for European Business Management. The award, which has been granted every two years since 2015, honors outstanding young researchers for their work in the field of education economics.
“The dissertation shows in an impressive way what influence the curriculum has on the educational and life paths of students,” lauds Kerstin Schneider, Chair of the Standing Field Committee on Economics of Education. “The results are important for education policy. Curricula are used to decide which competencies should be taught in schools. Competencies that can then also help us as a society to overcome upcoming challenges”.
Although the importance of curriculum design is obvious, little is known about its causal effects. It is difficult to measure the content of curricula and to isolate its effect on students, separating it from other determinants of human development. Benjamin Arold uses real-life experiments in Germany and the USA to identify causal effects. This enables him to provide empirical evidence for the long-term influence of curricula.
"The prize honors excellent academic work," says Felicitas Schneider, Member of the Board of the Roland Berger Foundation for European Business Management. "The study provides valuable insights for decision-makers in politics and impetus for the further development of the education system."
Benjamin Arold studied economics at LMU Munich and obtained his M.Sc. in Economics at University College London. He went on to complete a Master's degree in Environmental Economics and Climate Change at the London School of Economics. He returned to LMU and the ifo Institute for his doctorate. He is currently a post-doctoral researcher at ETH Zurich.
About the Roland Berger Foundation for European Business Management
The Roland Berger Foundation for European Business Management promotes science in the field of national and international business management.
About the Standing Field Committee on Economics of Education
The Standing Field Committee on Economics of Education of the Verein für Socialpolitik, the association of German-speaking economists, has been in existence since 1975 and has over 70 active members. The committee meets annually to discuss scientific issues relating to the economics of education. Many of the papers presented there are published in prestigious international journals. The committee is currently chaired by Kerstin Schneider from the University of Wuppertal. The jury for the dissertation prize consists of Conny Wunsch (University of Basel), Hendrik Jürges (University of Wuppertal) and Kerstin Schneider (University of Wuppertal).
https://education-economics.committee.socialpolitik.de/