Opinion

Inflated Grades Deflate Future Earnings

Grade inflation may feel harmless, but it quietly erodes learning. The real cost of an easy A? About $10,000 per student, according to new research.
Inflated Grades Deflate Future Earnings
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Julia R. Cartwright
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Commentary
Educators continue to debate a question that sounds philosophical but is actually quite practical: When a student earns a diploma, what exactly have they earned? Is it proof of real, transferable, labor-market-ready skills? Or is it a signal, a flag planted in the employer’s field of view that says this person showed up, tried hard, and turned things in on time?
Julia R. Cartwright
Julia R. Cartwright
Author
Julia R. Cartwright is an economist whose work specializes in law and economics, political economy, and economic development. Her research features topics like the governance structures of crypto markets, the economic consequences of judicial interventions in courts in East Africa, and the development impact of housing regulations.