The paper "Rotten Apples: An Investigation of the Prevalence and Predictors of Teacher Cheating" by Brian A. Jacob and Steven D. Levitt examines the prevalence and factors influencing teacher cheating in standardized tests. Using data from the Chicago Public Schools, the authors estimate that serious cases of teacher or administrator cheating on standardized tests occur in at least 4-5 percent of elementary school classrooms annually. They find that the frequency of cheating is strongly influenced by minor changes in incentives, such as increased accountability policies. The study employs an algorithm that combines unexpected test score fluctuations and suspicious patterns of answers to detect cheating. The results highlight the potential for incentive systems to induce behavioral distortions like cheating, but also show that statistical analysis can help detect illicit acts despite efforts to conceal them. The paper also discusses the limitations of the study and the implications for high-stakes testing policies.The paper "Rotten Apples: An Investigation of the Prevalence and Predictors of Teacher Cheating" by Brian A. Jacob and Steven D. Levitt examines the prevalence and factors influencing teacher cheating in standardized tests. Using data from the Chicago Public Schools, the authors estimate that serious cases of teacher or administrator cheating on standardized tests occur in at least 4-5 percent of elementary school classrooms annually. They find that the frequency of cheating is strongly influenced by minor changes in incentives, such as increased accountability policies. The study employs an algorithm that combines unexpected test score fluctuations and suspicious patterns of answers to detect cheating. The results highlight the potential for incentive systems to induce behavioral distortions like cheating, but also show that statistical analysis can help detect illicit acts despite efforts to conceal them. The paper also discusses the limitations of the study and the implications for high-stakes testing policies.