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Does the ‘Double Reduction’ Policy Reduce ‘Rat Race’? A Natural Experimental Study in China

by Philip Arestis a,* ,  Mianshan Lai b ,  Jiale Yang c  and  Yuexun Zhong c
a
Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
b
China Center for Special Economic Zone Research, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
c
College of Economics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
JEA  2025 4(3):111; https://doi.org/10.58567/jea04030003
Received: 21 January 2025 / Accepted: 16 April 2025 / Published Online: 14 May 2025
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Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of an unprecedented education policy called ‘double reduction’ (DR) on students’ performance, with evidence from China. One of the significant changes brought about by this policy is the transition of examination scores from a numerical system to a grading system. We found a junior middle school in a small town in Guangzhou that met the requirements for a natural experiment, and we used such unique data to examine three hypotheses. After the implementation of DR, the ‘rat race’ reflected on the students’ grade is reduced. To examine heterogeneity, we apply quantile regression showing that the high-ability students exert less efforts on the ‘rat race’ than low-ability students. Meanwhile, we also provide possible explanations in terms of this phenomenon. Overall, this study not only does it assess the grading transformation that DR policy induced but also fills the gap in the field of DR from an economic perspective.

Keywords: Rat Race; Double Reduction; Grading System; Quantile Analysis;
Copyright: © 2025 by Arestis, Lai, Yang and Zhong. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Cite This Paper
APA Style
Arestis, P., Lai, M., Yang, J., & Zhong, Y. (2025). Does the ‘Double Reduction’ Policy Reduce ‘Rat Race’? A Natural Experimental Study in China. Journal of Economic Analysis, 4(3), 111. doi:10.58567/jea04030003
ACS Style
Arestis, P.; Lai, M.; Yang, J.; Zhong, Y. Does the ‘Double Reduction’ Policy Reduce ‘Rat Race’? A Natural Experimental Study in China. Journal of Economic Analysis, 2025, 4, 111. doi:10.58567/jea04030003
AMA Style
Arestis P, Lai M, Yang J et al.. Does the ‘Double Reduction’ Policy Reduce ‘Rat Race’? A Natural Experimental Study in China. Journal of Economic Analysis; 2025, 4(3):111. doi:10.58567/jea04030003
Chicago/Turabian Style
Arestis, Philip; Lai, Mianshan; Yang, Jiale; Zhong, Yuexun 2025. "Does the ‘Double Reduction’ Policy Reduce ‘Rat Race’? A Natural Experimental Study in China" Journal of Economic Analysis 4, no.3:111. doi:10.58567/jea04030003

Funding

Youth Fund for Humanities and Social Sciences Research of the Ministry of Education of China (24YJC790084) , Youth Fund of Philosophy and Social Sciences of Guangdong Province (GD24YYJ20)

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ACS Style
Arestis, P.; Lai, M.; Yang, J.; Zhong, Y. Does the ‘Double Reduction’ Policy Reduce ‘Rat Race’? A Natural Experimental Study in China. Journal of Economic Analysis, 2025, 4, 111. doi:10.58567/jea04030003
AMA Style
Arestis P, Lai M, Yang J et al.. Does the ‘Double Reduction’ Policy Reduce ‘Rat Race’? A Natural Experimental Study in China. Journal of Economic Analysis; 2025, 4(3):111. doi:10.58567/jea04030003
Chicago/Turabian Style
Arestis, Philip; Lai, Mianshan; Yang, Jiale; Zhong, Yuexun 2025. "Does the ‘Double Reduction’ Policy Reduce ‘Rat Race’? A Natural Experimental Study in China" Journal of Economic Analysis 4, no.3:111. doi:10.58567/jea04030003
APA style
Arestis, P., Lai, M., Yang, J., & Zhong, Y. (2025). Does the ‘Double Reduction’ Policy Reduce ‘Rat Race’? A Natural Experimental Study in China. Journal of Economic Analysis, 4(3), 111. doi:10.58567/jea04030003

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