Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Series: Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers
Creation-Date: 2023-04-28
Number: 23-023/V
Author-Name: Kyra Hanemaaijer
Author-Workplace-Name: Erasmus University Rotterdam
Author-Name: Olivier Marie
Author-Workplace-Name: Erasmus University Rotterdam
Author-Name: Marco Musumeci
Author-Workplace-Name: Erasmus University Rotterdam
Title: The Fast and The Studious? Ramadan Observance and Student Performance
Abstract: What are the consequences of religious obligations conflicting with civic duties?
We investigate this question by evaluating changes in the performance of practicing Muslim
students when end-of-secondary-school exams and Ramadan overlapped in the Netherlands.
Using administrative data on exam takers and a machine learning model to individually
predict fasting probability, we estimate that the grades and pass rate of compliers dropped
significantly. This negative impact was especially strong for low achievers and those from
religiously segregated schools. Investigating mechanisms, we find suggestive evidence that
not being able to sleep in the morning before an afternoon exam was particularly detrimental
to performance.
Classification-JEL: I2, I24, Z12, J15

Keywords: Religion, Productivity, Ramadan, Education, The Netherlands
File-URL: https://papers.tinbergen.nl/23030.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 15.850.300 bytes
Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20230030