nep-lam New Economics Papers
on Central and South America
Issue of 2026–03–23
two papers chosen by
Maximo Rossi, Universidad de la RepÃúºblica


  1. Lasting Effects of Retaking College Admission Exams By Veronica Frisancho; Sebastian Gallegos; Constanza González
  2. The Subnational Politics Project: Addressing Subnational Data Challenges in Comparative Politics By Agustina Giraudy; Guadalupe González

  1. By: Veronica Frisancho (CAF Development Bank of Latin America); Sebastian Gallegos (Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez); Constanza González (Universidad Adolfo Ibañez)
    Abstract: Do second chances at a high-stakes admission exam yield long-term gains? Leveraging fifteen years of Chilean administrative data and an RDD, we examine the causal effects of retaking on educational and labor market trajectories. Narrowly missing a preferred program cutoff triggers a 44% increase in retaking, leading to substantial score gains (0.27 SD) and improved placement and enrollment chances. However, these immediate gains do not persist. Retakers graduate at the same rate and from programs with similar earnings and employability profiles as their counterfactual peers. Our results suggest that retaking serves as a reshuffling mechanism yielding null net welfare gains.
    Keywords: high-stakes exams, developing countries, Latin America, educational policy, college enrollment, college graduation, college choice
    JEL: J62 N36 I24 I25 I28
    Date: 2026–03
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hka:wpaper:2026-004
  2. By: Agustina Giraudy (American University and School of Social Sciences and Government, Tecnológico de Monterrey); Guadalupe González (University of Maryland, College Park and School of Government and Public Transformation, Tecnológico de Monterrey)
    Abstract: Este artículo presenta el Subnational Politics Project, una base de datos comparada sobre política subnacional en Argentina, Brasil y México entre 1983 y 2024. El proyecto integra información sobre ejecutivos, legislaturas y democracia subnacional, y muestra su utilidad para analizar autoritarismo local, composición legislativa y desigualdad territorial en la calidad de la democracia.
    Keywords: subnational politics, subnational democracy, federalism, legislative politics, comparative politics, Latin America, territorial inequality, political data.
    JEL: D72 H77 P16 R50
    Date: 2026–03
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gnt:wpaper:28

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