Brains Versus Brawn: Ordinal Rank Effects in Job Training
Is it better to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?
Using data from Air Force basic military training, Civitas Senior Fellow Scott Carrell and Alexander Chesney examine the impacts of relative rank in cognitive and physical ability on enlistees short and longer-run outcomes. Results show strong evidence for the “big fish, small pond” phenomenon, meaning that individuals of equal ability tend to thrive when they are higher on the proverbial pecking order of ability within their assigned group. Findings also suggest that overall group productivity could be improved by altering the way military personnel are assigned to training groups.
Read the Full Paper
This paper was originally published by the Journal of Public Economics.
Pursuit of Happiness
National Poll from Civitas Institute: Americans Concerned About AI, Economic Issues
The Civitas Institute Poll, conducted from March 11-20, 2025, asked 1,200 Americans an array of questions about how things are going in the country.
Humanity According to Alasdair MacIntyre
He reminded us that life is mainly about love and friendship, not reason and will.
.webp)
MacIntyre’s Post-Postliberal Godchildren
The best way to honor his legacy is to apply his insights about integrative traditions where they are most effective, the world MacIntyre knew best: the world of thought and inquiry.
The Burden of Debt and the Gift of Work
Pakaluk demonstrates how our nature as moral and social beings serves to create value and wealth as we utilize the resources of this earth to address the problem of scarcity.
