College students are assigned higher grades when in a classroom with peers who are rated as very attractive - Effect is strongest for female students

Physical appearance and peer effects in academic performance. Rey Hernández-Julián & Christina Peters. Applied Economics Letters, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2017.1380282

Abstract: A large literature examines the role of peer effects in shaping student academic outcomes. This article adds to that literature by introducing a new kind of peer effect – the effect of classmate physical appearance. We document that college students are assigned higher grades when in a classroom with peers who are rated as very attractive. This effect is strongest for female students and appears to be concentrated among the courses of younger and male instructors.

KEYWORDS: Peer effects, appearance, grades, classmate appearance