Abstract: We conducted a lab-based randomized controlled trial using an automated digital testing system to administer both linear and adaptive mathematics tests to students. Each question was accompanied by feedback, and an overall summary was provided following the completion of the test. Subsequently, all participants completed an identical 4-question "mathematics exam." We find that students subject to the adaptive mathematics test displayed significantly higher performance compared to those in the linear test group (difference of 26.2 percentage points, $p<0.05$). It is important to interpret these findings within the context of a pilot study. The limited number of participants constrains the study's statistical power. Aditionally, using just four exam questions might lead to inaccuracies in assessing learning outomes. Further research should consider expanding the sample size, refining the learning outcome measurements, and investigating other facets of adaptiv testing like motivation, engagement, and self-regulation.
Abstract: In this field experiment, we explore the connection between study habits and academic achievement among undergraduates in an introductory mathematics course at a Norwegian college. Using a procrastination scale based on self-reported behavior, we examine how students’ study habits influence their performance. Our findings reveal a negative correlation between self-identified procrastinators and the number of problem-sets submitted. Moreover, there is significant correlation between procrastination tendencies and the final course grade, but only for two of the four dimensions we use to measure procrastination. Notably, 43% of the variation in the final grade can be accounted for by prior competence, number of homework’s and the student’s age. Furthermore, to establish causality, we randomly divided the students into two groups: one received a text message on their mobile devices and the other did not. The text message emphasized the positive link between the number of completed problem sets and improved academic performance in the final exam. Through this controlled approach, we assess the impact of the text message on problem set submission and final exam performance. Our results indicate that the text message exerts no discernible influence on either the quantity of problem sets submitted or the performance in the final exam.
Abstract: This paper studies price dispersion in the Norwegian retail market for 766 products across 4 297 stores over 60 months. Price dispersion for homogeneous products is significant and persistent, with a coefficient of variation of 37% for the median product. Price dispersion differs between product categories and characteristics and over time. Store heterogeneity accounts for 30% of the observed variation in prices for the median product-month and for around 50% for the sample as a whole. Price dispersion is still prevalent after correcting for store heterogeneity.
Abstract: We study the market for college football coaches and analyze the career paths from graduate assistant to become a head coach at the highest level (FBS). We document the career paths of coaches that have made it to the top in the last 20 years, to study the path to become a head coach (success) and relate the road traveled to the performance on the job. Mobility arises on two dimensions, quality of the college and position in the hierarchy and that most movements are 'up-down' and 'down-up'. We propose a matching model where assistant coaches learn from head-coaches, and show that these off-the-diagonal moves are equilibria phenomena and arise in equal proportion, consistent with the empirical findings.
Abstract: The success of organizations put in place by managers depends not only on the effort the manager exerts but also on how the manager's characteristics fit with those of other stakeholders. Both fit with the culture and the quality of the organization will determine whether a manager should stay or be replaced. Who has control at the time of this decision will affect the allocation of suplus, and also under which conditions renegotiation happens. What determines the duration of control of decision rights in contracts? We show that long-term control to the manager leads to first-best effort provision but with costly resolution of conflict for the owners; short-term control, on the other hand, always leads to inefficient effort provision but cheaper resolution of conflict for the owners.
Abstract: This article studies the interaction between incomplete contracts and a decentralized input market on the make-or-buy decision in a vertical relationship, considering both contractual and matching frictions. The downstream manufacturer trades off the cost of inefficient investments against the option value of continued search. It is costly to search because the production has inefficient input levels. It is beneficial to search because the manufacturer can be matched with a better supplier. The model predicts that vertically integrated firms are more productive than non-integrated firms, and a sample of ex-ante identical manufacturers can choose different production structures.
Abstract: This article introduces unobservable consumer characteristics in an equilibrium search model with random matching and posting to inspect the equilibrium price characteristics. When consumers hold different information about prices and preferences are sufficiently heterogeneous relative to the amount of informed consumers a symmetric pure strategy equilibrium exist. Hence, the result from the standard models is only robust up to a certain point of added noise in preferences.