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| Author(s): |
Lucas Costa Scottini
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade (FEA/SBD) |
| Defense date: | 2011-11-17 |
| Examining board members: |
Marcos de Almeida Rangel;
Ricardo de Abreu Madeira;
Aldo Musacchio
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| Advisor: | Marcos de Almeida Rangel |
| Abstract | |
This dissertation studies social and racial patterns of names and surnames for students in São Paulo and evaluates its contribution to academic performance. For each name and surname observed, we create indices to measure how distinctively rich (or poor) and how distinctively white (or black) they are. We find that both names and surnames are predictors of social status, while surnames and, to a lesser extent, names predict race. Names that indicate higher status present, generally, higher frequency, latin origin, only one term and spelling coherent to formal Portuguese language. Names that signal low status show lower frequency, two terms, English language influence on spelling and pronouncing and spelling different from formal Portuguese. The evidence also points to a stronger link between first names and social status than between first names and race, revealing that cultural determinants of name choice are mainly social rather than racial. When it comes to family names, data shows that distinctively high status and white surnames have low frequency and non-portuguese origin. Portuguese surnames do not present social or racial patterns, except for the three most common surnames, which are typically poor. Additionaly, catholic devotional surnames are distinctively poor and afro. Then we evaluate the correlation between names, surnames and a set of academic performance measures. The evidence indicates a robust link between having a distinctively poor (rich) name and a distinctively afro (white) family name and worse (better) grades. This is consistent with a scenario where parental cultural choices and familiar cultural heritage affect human capital accumulation of children. Discriminatory treatment in school is another possibility. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 09/13237-3 - Social discrimination in classroom: the case of São Paulo public schools |
| Grantee: | Lucas Costa Scottini |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |