From past to present: ancestry and student achievement in Brazil

The article 'From Past to Present: Ancestry and Student Achievement in Brazil' delves into the complex interplay between family ancestry and educational outcomes in Brazil. Utilizing a unique dataset that spans multiple generations of immigrants, the study reveals that students with non-Iberian European or Japanese ancestry, such as German, Italian, and Japanese, perform significantly better in standardized tests compared to their Iberian counterparts. The research highlights the persistent influence of cultural heritage on academic achievement, even after accounting for socioeconomic factors and local institutions. Notably, the study shows that the performance gap between students of different ancestries widens as they progress through the education system. The authors employ a sophisticated surname-based matching algorithm to assign ancestry, allowing for a detailed examination of the impact of cultural transmission on educational outcomes. By controlling for various factors such as family socioeconomic status, place of birth, and mobility, the study provides robust evidence of the 'Ancestry Premium' in educational performance. The findings have significant implications for understanding the role of cultural heritage in educational achievement and could inform public policy aimed at improving educational outcomes in Brazil and other similar contexts.