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on Urban Economics and Policy |
| By: | Gonzalez-Pampillon, Nicolas; Jofre-Monseny, Jordi |
| Abstract: | While the literature has extensively studied the impact of immigration shocks on cities, we know surprisingly little about how cities absorb large immigration waves. This paper helps fill that gap by analyzing the neighborhood-level population dynamics among Spanish-born residents, non-EU15 immigrants, and EU15 immigrants in Spanish cities during the major immigration wave of 2001–2009. Drawing on the monocentric city model, and within a context of path-dependent urban development with outward city growth, we explore how different population groups sort spatially within cities. Higher-income Spanish-born residents tend to settle in more distant suburbs to access larger housing. In contrast, younger and highly educated EU15 immigrants concentrate in central neighborhoods to benefit from urban amenities. Initially, lower-income non-EU15 immigrants settled in central areas with deteriorated housing stock, but over time they increasingly moved to mid-distance neighborhoods with small dwellings built between 1950 and 1970. |
| Keywords: | cities internal structure; housing characteristics; immigration; neighborhoods |
| JEL: | R23 R30 R58 |
| Date: | 2026–02–25 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:137605 |
| By: | Asher, Sam (Imperial College London Business School); Jha, Kritarth (Development Data Lab); Novosad, Paul (Dartmouth College); Adukia, Anjali (University of Chicago); Tan, Brandon (IMF) |
| Abstract: | We study residential segregation and access to public services across 1.5 million urban and rural neighborhoods in India. Muslim and Scheduled Caste segregation in India is high by global standards, and only slightly lower than Black-White segregation in the U.S. Within cities, public facilities and infrastructure are systematically less available in Muslim and Scheduled Caste neighborhoods. Nearly all regressive allocation is across neighborhoods within cities at the most informal and least studied form of government. These inequalities are not visible in the aggregate data typically used for research and policy. |
| Keywords: | segregation, neighborhoods, place-based policies, marginalized groups, infrastructure, access to public services, electricity, schools, sanitation, India, Muslims, Scheduled Castes |
| JEL: | H4 H41 I24 J15 O15 R12 R13 R23 |
| Date: | 2026–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18403 |
| By: | Kishor, N. Kundan |
| Abstract: | This paper develops a framework to estimate U.S. housing market slack-the deviation of inventory from equilibrium levels needed for stability. We measure slack as a common cyclical component of existing and new home inventories that drives house prices through a housing Phillips curve. Results show a statistically significant inverse relationship between slack and price growth, with persistent negative slack since 2010 and extreme tightness during the pandemic. A shock to the estimated housing market slack generates substantial, lasting effects on house prices and rents, with rental impacts peaking 24 months after initial shocks. |
| Keywords: | Housing Market Slack, Housing Phillips Curve, Natural Level of Housing Inventory, State Space Model. |
| JEL: | E00 E31 E37 R21 R31 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:127473 |
| By: | Esteve, Vicente; Blanco-Arroyo, Omar; Prats, Maria A. |
| Abstract: | Purpose The aim of this paper is to apply the methodology developed by Evripidou et al. (2022) to assess the co-explosivity between housing credit and housing prices in the Spanish economy from 1971 to 2024. Design/methodology/approach First, the authors use recursive unit root tests for explosiveness, proposed by Phillips et al. (2011) and Phillips et al. (2015a), to investigate whether nominal house prices (NHP) and housing credit exhibit bubble-like behavior at any point in the time series. Second, they apply the methodology of Evripidou et al. (2022) to assess co-explosiveness between housing credit and house prices. Thus, this study not only analyzes the univariate explosiveness of these series but also explores their interdependence. A (stable) asynchronous coexplosiveness would permit the construction of early warning indicators for upcoming explosiveness in housing markets. Findings First, to examine explosiveness in individual series, they use recursive unit root tests proposed by Phillips et al. (2011) and Phillips et al. (2015a) to assess whether NHP and housing credit exhibit bubble-like behavior. These tests identify periods of exuberance in 1988–1991 and 1992–1993 (coinciding with economic expansion before the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and Seville Universal Exposition) and 2001–2008 (preceding the subprime mortgage crisis and the “Spanish housing boom”). Second, regarding co-explosivity, the KPSS test for co-explosivity reveals no co-explosivity when house prices lead housing credit, as the null hypothesis of stationarity is rejected across all lags (−5 to +5 years). However, a significant co-explosivity pattern emerges when housing credit leads house prices, with a stable bubble relationship observed for leads of 2–5 years. The strongest relationship occurs at a 4-year lead, indicating that credit dynamics precede and drive housing price bubbles. This finding is central to their analysis, highlighting the critical role of credit in triggering housing price bubbles. It underscores the importance of addressing the leading effect of credit, which is essential for effective policy and market interventions aimed at mitigating real estate bubbles. The empirical evidence, particularly at the 4-year lead, reveals a feedback mechanism in which credit growth drives subsequent price increases. Given that their econometric analysis identifies credit dynamics as a key driver of housing bubbles, policy interventions should encompass macroprudential and microprudential measures, alongside fiscal and structural policies. Originality/value This paper examines the interaction between housing prices and housing credit in Spain from 1971 to 2024, contributing to the empirical literature on the Spanish economy in two ways. First, they use recursive unit root tests for explosiveness, proposed by Phillips et al. (2011) and Phillips et al. (2015a), to investigate whether NHP and housing credit exhibit bubble-like behavior at any point in the time series. Second, they apply the methodology of Evripidou et al. (2022) to assess co-explosiveness between housing credit and house prices. Thus, this study not only analyzes the univariate explosiveness of these series but also explores their interdependence. A (stable) asynchronous coexplosiveness would permit the construction of early warning indicators for upcoming explosiveness in housing markets. |
| Keywords: | Co-explosivity; Explosive behavior; Housing market; Mortgages loans |
| JEL: | C22 E31 E44 E51 G21 R31 |
| Date: | 2026–02–20 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:137513 |
| By: | Alex Buckland (Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin University); Alfred Michael Dockery (Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin University); Alan S Duncan (Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin University) |
| Abstract: | To understand and prepare for Western Australia’s future, we must look beyond headline population counts and examine the forces that shape how, where and why the state grows. Population change is not just a demographic outcome. It reflects economic opportunity, migration flows, housing, infrastructure investment and policy choices. When these forces align, population growth strengthens productivity, economic progress and the welfare of communities. When they do not, pressures emerge across housing, infrastructure and services, constraining opportunity and eroding confidence. This twentieth report in the BCEC’s Focus on Western Australia series examines the state’s population story through that wider lens. It asks a set of fundamental questions. What is driving WA’s population growth, and how predictable are those drivers? How do migration, economic cycles and housing capacity shape the state’s demographic trajectory? Why do some regions grow while others struggle to sustain population? And what do these patterns mean for planning, productivity and long-term prosperity? This report draws on new empirical analysis to better understand these dynamics. Using multiple data sources and advanced modelling, we link population outcomes to their economic drivers, identify leading indicators of migration and population change, and explore how different economic and policy scenarios could shape Western Australia’s future growth. The analysis moves beyond trend-based projections to capture how migration responds to labour markets, investment and housing, and how these forces affect population growth over time. A clear message emerges. Population growth in Western Australia is neither fixed nor inevitable. It is responsive, cyclical and policy sensitive. Economic opportunity attracts people, housing availability shapes settlement, infrastructure directs growth, and participation patterns influence sustainability. Regional outcomes depend on coordinated investment in jobs, services and housing, reinforcing the importance of evidence-based planning and policy. |
| Keywords: | population growth, demography, demographic composition, population dynamics, migration, net interstate migration, net overseas migration, productivity, housing supply, housing shortages, regional populations. |
| JEL: | J13 I21 D72 I31 |
| Date: | 2026–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ozl:bcecrs:fwa20 |
| By: | Toshiyuki MATSUURA; Masahiro ENDOH; Hisamitsu SAITO |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the regional economic consequences of tourism expansion, conceptualizing it as a positive demand shock to the local tradable service sector. While traditional regional development strategies emphasize manufacturing exports, we examine how inbound tourism, a growing form of service trade, can promote regional revitalization. Focusing on the rapid increase in inbound tourists to Japan during the 2010s, we employ a shift-share instrumental variable approach using a novel commuting zone-level dataset to identify causal effects. By disentangling the impacts of international and domestic tourists, we identify the distinct effects of inbound tourism on key regional economic indicators: per capita income, youth demographic shifts, and commercial land prices. These gains are spatially concentrated and moderated by regional heterogeneity, with leisure-oriented and seasonal destinations experiencing more pronounced growth. Our findings suggest that strategic promotion of foreign tourism can effectively mitigate regional decline by optimizing resource utilization and population dynamics. |
| Date: | 2026–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:dpaper:26020 |
| By: | Soproni, Luminita |
| Abstract: | In contemporary urban development, good governance – characterized by responsibility, transparency, inclusivity, and responsiveness – and effective city branding are fundamentally interconnected. As cities navigate an increasingly competitive global landscape, distinguishing themselves to attract investments, tourists, and a skilled workforce has become essential. This branding process is no longer just a top-down marketing effort, requiring profound engagement with local stakeholders to ensure authenticity and relevance. Oradea, a city located in northwestern Romania, exemplifies how participatory governance and community-driven branding can mutually reinforce one another while promoting socio-economic inclusion. Through active engagement in urban planning, policy-making, and promotional initiatives, local actors harness Oradea’s historical, cultural, and socio-economic assets to shape a brand with both national and European appeal. This inclusive approach fosters civic pride and strengthens the legitimacy of governance structures, resulting in a city identity that authentically reflects its community’s values. Oradea’s experience illustrates that involving residents and local organizations in governance and branding not only cultivates trust and pride but also empowers cities to strategically position themselves on broader regional and international stages with an authentic, community-rooted identity that reflects their diverse population and shared aspirations. |
| Keywords: | governance, branding, urban development, socio-economic inclusion |
| JEL: | M38 O18 R11 R58 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:127643 |
| By: | Daniel L. Dench; Kelly Lifchez; Jason M. Lindo; Jancy Ling Liu |
| Abstract: | We estimate the market value of reproductive rights as capitalized into U.S. housing markets. We do so using a synthetic difference-in-differences design to evaluate the effects of total abortion bans following the 2022 Dobbs decision, and drawing on housing market indices from Zillow and vacancy rate data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Housing Vacancy Survey. The results indicate that total abortion bans reduced rents by an average of 2.2% from July 2022 through June 2025, with the effect reaching 4.0% in the most recent year. Over the same horizon, bans increased rental vacancy rates by an average of 1.1 percentage points, with the effect reaching 1.8 percentage points in the most recent year. Estimates for home values and homeowner vacancy rates are similar in magnitude but less precise. |
| JEL: | I18 J13 K23 R21 R23 R31 |
| Date: | 2026–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34921 |
| By: | Amy Finkelstein (MIT and NBER); Matthew J. Notowidigdo (Chicago Booth and NBER); Steven Shi (MIT) |
| Abstract: | We estimate the mortality impact of local labor market exposure to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as well as to other local area shocks, and provide a parsimonious empirical explanation for differently-signed mortality estimates across different sources of local labor market contractions. Leveraging spatial variation in exposure to Mexican important competition from NAFTA, we find that more exposed areas experienced larger increases in mortality. In the 15 years post-NAFTA, an area with average NAFTA exposure experienced an increase in annual, age-adjusted mortality of 0.68 percent (standard error = 0.19), an increase that more than erases prior estimates of the welfare gains from NAFTA’s nationwide economic benefits. Mortality increases appear across all broad age by sex groups, but are particularly pronounced among working-age men, a demographic that also experienced disproportionate NAFTA-induced declines in (primarily manufacturing) employment. Additional evidence from other local labor market shocks reveals a systematic pattern: declines in local area manufacturing employment increase mortality, while declines in local area non-manufacturing employment decrease mortality. These findings suggest that the sign and magnitude of any mortality impacts of future economic shocks likely depends critically on the extent to which employment declines are concentrated in the manufacturing sector. |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bfi:wpaper:2026-33 |
| By: | Ransom, Tyler (University of Oklahoma) |
| Abstract: | This paper provides a non-technical summary of recent research on why people stay put rather than move, even in the face of adverse local economic shocks. I compare three frameworks for understanding migration: the moving costs model, the spatial frictions model, and a newer approach called the SPACE model. The models differ in their explanations of why individuals stay put. The moving costs model emphasizes financial or psychological barriers to migration, the spatial frictions model emphasizes lack of information or job opportunities, and the SPACE model emphasizes persistent preferences for one’s current location. While the SPACE model best explains observed migration patterns, all three mechanisms operate simultaneously in practice. Therefore, successful regional policies should address all three: reducing barriers, providing information, and building community ties that make locations persistently attractive. |
| Keywords: | migration, moving costs, spatial frictions, place-based policy, regional economics |
| JEL: | J61 J68 R23 |
| Date: | 2026–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18410 |
| By: | Howard, Greg (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign); Oh, Namgyoon (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign); Weinstein, Russell (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) |
| Abstract: | We investigate the effects of 4-year public historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) on social mobility of nearby Black and White children. To identify a causal effect, we use the historical fact that many HBCUs began as normal schools to train Black teachers, and we argue that the site selection was similar for insane asylums for Black individuals (as well as all asylums). We find that in recent years Black children from Black normal school counties are 7 percentage points more likely to graduate from college and move up 2 percentiles in the income rankings relative to Black children from control insane asylum counties. We do not see these effects for White children. |
| Keywords: | HBCUs, economic mobility, college access |
| JEL: | I23 I24 J15 |
| Date: | 2026–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18402 |
| By: | Petri Böckerman; Mika Haapanen; Christopher Jepsen; Hannu Karhunen |
| Abstract: | We estimate the effect of receiving a higher grade on an academic high school exit exam on labor-market outcomes in adulthood. Identification is based on comparing students on different sides of grade cutoffs. Using nationwide Finnish register data, we find that better grades lead to higher income, although the effects are heterogeneous across the grade distribution. The largest and most precise income gains are concentrated among students in the middle of the grade scale. In contrast, we find little evidence of an income increase for those who barely passed, and the estimates for men with the highest grade are large but imprecise. |
| Keywords: | high school exit exam, regression discontinuity, earnings, income |
| JEL: | I21 I26 J24 |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12532 |
| By: | Pablo Beramendi (Duke University); Melissa Rogers (Claremont Graduate University) |
| Abstract: | Recent political trends in Europe and the United States have highlighted the importance of rising spatial inequality for a range of political outcomes. Existing research on spatial inequality has emphasized that distributional conflict between more and less productive subnational regions may result in limited taxation and spending. We build upon this research to link spatial inequality and asymmetric decentralization to high concentrations of wealth and feeble efforts to tax the rich. We consider how institutions that codify asymmetric decentralization may interact with spatial inequalities to affect redistributive effort. We demonstrate a robust association between high spatial inequality and high concentrations of wealth and low taxation from progressive sources. At the same time, nations with asymmetric regional authority tend to have lower inequality and higher tax revenue on average, yet those with legislative malapportionment, a different form of regional asymmetric design, have far higher inequality and lower tax revenue. The interaction of inequalities and institutions also matters: when nations have both high spatial inequalities and asymmetrically decentralized institutions, they tend to have higher inequality and lower progressive taxation. We link these findings to comparative research on the origins and implementation of tax policy. |
| Date: | 2026–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ays:ispwps:paper2610 |
| By: | Christa Deneault; Evan Riehl; Jian Zou |
| Abstract: | We use Texas administrative data to assess the long-standing claim that teacher certification exams discriminate against underrepresented minority (URM) candidates. In a regression discontinuity design, we find that failing a certification exam delays entry into teaching and costs the average candidate $10, 000 in forgone earnings. These costs fall disproportionately on URM candidates both because they are more likely to fail and because their earnings losses from failing are 50 percent larger on average. To examine whether these disparities are justified by racial/ethnic differences in teaching quality, we develop a new measure of disparate impact and estimate it using a policy change that increased the difficulty of Texas’ elementary certification exam. The harder exam reduced the URM share of new teachers but had no significant benefits for teaching quality or student achievement. Taken together, our findings show that certification exams have a disparate impact in the sense that they impose much larger economic costs on URM teaching candidates than on white candidates with similar potential teaching quality. |
| Keywords: | Occupational licensing; teacher labor markets; occupational choice |
| Date: | 2026–02–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fip:feddwp:102853 |
| By: | Jongkwan Lee; Seoyoung Kwon; Joan Monràs |
| Abstract: | High-skilled migration programs exist around the world in the hope that immigrants complement native workers, allow firms to grow, and boost innovation. We study the effect of one such program by exploiting the 2016 extension of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which significantly prolonged the work authorization period for international STEM graduates. Using a synthetic difference-in-differences approach, we find that the policy successfully increased the local supply of high-skilled immigrants in exposed Commuting Zones. This local inflow stimulated firm creation and the demand for native high-skilled workers. The program might have also boosted innovation in certain sectors and startup investment, especially in Commuting Zones hosting top-ranked universities, where, overall, the effects tend to be larger. |
| Keywords: | firm dynamics, high-skilled migration, immigration, Labor demand |
| JEL: | F22 J31 J61 R11 |
| Date: | 2026–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bge:wpaper:1564 |
| By: | Wasserman, Jacob L.; Barrall, Aaron; Millard-Ball, Adam; Lee, Amy |
| Abstract: | “Major transit stop”: how these three words are defined determines what can be built where, throughout much of California. In order to address housing supply constraints, the state legislature has enacted a number of laws that streamline approval and remove zoning constraints in areas close to high-quality transit. But what, exactly, is a “major transit stop”? Planners, developers, and elected officials construe the sparse definition in state law in many ways — though genuine interpretive disagreement, due to modeling and data constraints, and/or in order to serve political goals of encouraging or stymying development. Differences in interpreting the definition of “major transit stop” collectively make a big difference in what areas are covered by state zoning incentives. A maximal approach to defining “major transit stop” grows the eligible area by over three times more than a minimal approach. The area within half a mile of a major transit stop has generally increased over time. But areas with low vehicle travel are doing more to drive affordable housing eligibility than areas with quality transit. Finally, tying transit service to land use regulations has created a perverse incentive to cut transit service in order to avoid state housing mandates. |
| Keywords: | Social and Behavioral Sciences, Transit stops, Transit routes, Headways, Transit data, Data processing, Zoning, Land use, Housing, Development |
| Date: | 2026–03–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt7g41v63n |
| By: | Julius Berger; Felix Creutzig; Waldemar Marz |
| Abstract: | EV adoption in emerging economies (lower-middle income, fast urbanization and income growth) mitigates emissions of greenhouse gases and local pollutants from gasoline consumption, but at the same time exacerbates urban sprawl. This implies longer driving distances for commuting and non-work trips and higher consumption of floor space per capita and related energy demand for cooling/heating. We model scenarios of full electrification of transport in China, India, Brazil, and Nigeria until 2060, accounting for income growth, population growth, urbanization, public-transport shares, and power-mix scenarios for each country. On average in 2040, 209 percent of the direct carbon emission savings from EV adoption are offset by additional sprawl through increasing VKT (22 percent) and growing energy demand in the building sector (187 percent). Additional urban sprawl from EV adoption leads to the development of 1.2 million square kilometers until 2060. This is equivalent to 32 percent of arable land in 2024. |
| Keywords: | EV adoption, urban sprawl, emerging economies |
| JEL: | Q54 Q48 R14 R41 O18 |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12531 |
| By: | Ferraresi, Massimiliano; Herrmann, Benedikt; Loiacono, Luisa; Rizzo, Leonzio; Secomandi, Riccardo |
| Abstract: | Can fiscal autonomy affect per capita income levels? We empirically investigate the impact of fiscal autonomy on per capita income through the proper use of local financial resources. Exploiting a natural experiment in Italy, we compare municipalities in the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano, which retain and manage almost all their tax revenues, with neighbouring municipalities in Lombardy and Veneto, where only a small fraction of revenues is autonomously managed. Using a spatial fuzzy regression discontinuity design, we estimate the effect of financial fiscal autonomy on per capita income. We address the potential endogeneity of financial fiscal autonomy with a dummy variable identifying municipalities that manage almost all their tax revenues. Our findings show that higher levels of local financial fiscal autonomy increase per capita income: a one percentage point rise in the financial fiscal autonomy raises per capita income by 0.2–0.7%. This effect is largely driven by higher municipal-level administrative quality in municipalities with stronger fiscal autonomy. The results highlight that granting fiscal autonomy can enhance local economic performance. |
| Keywords: | fiscal autonomy; decentralization; regression discontinuity |
| JEL: | H71 H72 R11 |
| Date: | 2026–06–30 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:137552 |
| By: | Ignacio Banares-Sanchez; Robin Burgess; Dávid László; Pol Simpson; John Van Reenen; Yifan Wang |
| Abstract: | Do industrial policies that promote clean energy offer a “ray of hope”, increasing a country’s growth and welfare, whilst simultaneously reducing carbon emissions? We study the impact of Chinese solar subsidies whose implementation by city-regions went alongside massive expansion of the sector and a dramatic fall in global solar prices. We construct new city and firm panel data on solar policies, patenting and output. Using synthetic-difference-in-differences 2004-2020, we find production and innovation subsidies were more effective than demand-side (installation) subsidies in generating large and persistent increases in local innovation, net entry, production and exports. Demand policies did, however, reduce local pollution. To examine aggregate effects, we build and structurally estimate a quantitative spatial model with endogenous innovation and heterogeneous productivity across firms and cities, which accounts for business stealing and knowledge spillovers. Counterfactual analysis shows that: (i) local effects remain substantial at the macro level explaining 40%-50% of the aggregate changes in solar innovation, prices and revenues; (ii) social benefits to Chinese citizens exceed subsidy costs by 65% (and double this when environmental benefits are included); and (iii) although all subsidy types increase welfare, innovation subsidies are the most cost-effective. |
| JEL: | H25 L25 L5 L52 N5 O31 |
| Date: | 2026–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34893 |
| By: | Haeringer, Guillaume; Nguyen, Lan; placido, Latitia; Ravaioli, Silvio |
| Abstract: | We study how different framings of otherwise equivalent information affect school choice under uncertainty. In an online experiment, subjects repeatedly submitted rank-ordered lists of schools knowing only a probability distribution over their own score. Admission depended solely on whether the score exceeded exogenous school cutoffs. Across rounds, subjects varied in “type” (advantaged/disadvantaged score distributions) and faced one of four information treatments: a control (score distribution only), ex-ante admission probabilities, simulated ex-post composition statistics, and composition statistics based on actual choices of prior participants. We find that information framing has large and heterogeneous effects. Advantaged students react strongly to both ex-ante and ex-post information, becoming more cautious under probability information and more ambitious under composition information; disadvantaged students respond more weakly and only under specific cutoff environments. Ex-ante information significantly reduces segregation between advantaged and disadvantaged types. Our results highlight that the impact of information depends critically on student type and market competitiveness, implying that effective information policies must be carefully tailored to their intended beneficiaries. |
| Keywords: | School choice, Uncertainty, Information, Segregation |
| JEL: | C78 D78 I24 |
| Date: | 2026–01–19 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:127870 |
| By: | Xu, Lei (Loughborough University); Zhu, Yu (University of Dundee) |
| Abstract: | We apply a novel approach to estimate the effects of exposure to peers with different attributes by using the predetermined leave-own-out attributes of all classmates in randomly assigned classes. This strategy allows a behavioural interpretation of the peer effect over and above the pure mechanical channel. We find that being exposed to peer groups with attributes conducive to academic achievements, induced by random variations in the shares of classmates with college-educated parents, increases exam scores. We show that estimates based on the commonly used leave-own-out measures are highly sensitive to sample selection bias arising from non-random tracking in the sample. We show that estimates based on the commonly used leave-one-out measures are highly sensitive to non-random tracking in the sample. |
| Keywords: | parental education, random assignment, China |
| JEL: | I20 I24 |
| Date: | 2026–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18416 |
| By: | César Ducruet; Mariantonia Lo Prete; Magali Dumontet; Barbara Polo Martin; Charbel ALKHOURY; Ling Sun; Sheng Zhang |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the influence of multiple vessel traffics on air pollution and public health in European port cities. A sample of 120 Functional Urban Areas (FUAs) is analysed over the period 2000-2019, confronting container, cruise, liquid bulk, and solid bulk traffic with environmental (emissions of CO², PM2.5, NO²), public health (life expectancy, mortality rate), and socio-economic features like population density and GDP per inhabitant. Results from the fixed effects model show that population density is the major cause of all pollutions, followed by GDP and solid bulks, while life expectancy and mortality are mainly influenced by the nature of the local socio-economic environment (population density, age, GDP, bed rates, educational level). This is complemented by a factor analysis and a hierarchical clustering, which reveal the existence of three types of port cities: critical, tourism, and metropolitan. The typology of port cities is further discussed based on ground observation in particular sites. |
| Keywords: | Europe; Functional Urban Area; hinterland; port city; sea transport; specialization; supply chains |
| JEL: | R41 R11 Q53 Q56 O18 |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:drm:wpaper:2026-5 |
| By: | van Asselt, Joanna; Aung, Zin Wai |
| Abstract: | The ninth round of the Myanmar Household Welfare Survey (MHWS), a nationally and regionally representative phone survey, was conducted between July and October 2025. This round follows eight previous rounds carried out since December 2021 and reflects conditions during April – October 2025. This report presents updated evidence on the conflict, climatic, service, and economic shocks households face and the coping strategies they adopt. In April–October 2025, insecurity and lawlessness intensified across Myanmar. About 21 percent of households reported feeling insecure, an increase from late 2024, with rural insecurity exceeding urban levels for the first time. Trust deteriorated sharply, with 25 percent reporting low community trust. Lawlessness remained widespread: 16 percent reported gambling, 16 percent petty crime, and 13 percent drug use. Urban areas were disproportionately affected by petty crime, bribery, and mobility constraints, while perceived conscription risk rose markedly, exceeding 40 percent in some regions. Climatic shocks continued to compound conflict-related stressors. About 19 percent of farm households reported being negatively affected by at least one climatic shock between April and October 2025. Flooding was the dominant shock, affecting 13 percent of households nationally, with particularly high exposure in Kayin, Shan, Bago, and Magway. Irregular rainfall and strong winds were less prevalent but remained locally significant, especially in Chin and Mon, reinforcing spatial disparities in vulnerability. Climatic shocks continued to compound conflict-related stressors. About 19 percent of farm households reported being negatively affected by at least one climatic shock between April and October 2025. Flooding was the dominant shock, affecting 13 percent of households nationally, with particularly high exposure in Kayin, Shan, Bago, and Magway. Irregular rainfall and strong winds were less prevalent but remained locally significant, especially in Chin and Mon, reinforcing spatial disparities in vulnerability. Economic pressures remained high despite modest improvements. About 37 percent of households reported being negatively affected by high food prices, similar to 2023 levels but slightly lower than late 2024. Price shocks were highly uneven, exceeding 50 percent in conflict-affected regions. Fuel price shocks affected 33 percent of households, declining from late 2024 as prices stabilized, though impacts remained severe in conflict-affected regions. Households continued to cope by reducing expenditures. Reductions in non-food spending were more common than cuts to food consumption across all regions. Conflict-affected states recorded the highest shares of households reducing both food and non-food expenditures, often exceeding 40 percent. While fewer households reported cutting back on staples and vegetables, most continued to reduce consumption of meat and fish, reflecting persistent affordability constraints for animal-source foods. Financial buffers remained extremely limited. Fewer than one in five households reported holding any cash savings. Borrowing was widespread, particularly among wage-earning households, with over half reporting outstanding debt. More than 50 percent of loans were sourced from friends and relatives, reflecting the near collapse of formal credit. Debt was primarily used for food, health, and basic needs, with a growing share allocated to medical expenses. |
| Keywords: | households; communities; shock; economic shock; Myanmar; Asia; South-eastern Asia |
| Date: | 2026–01–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprwp:179640 |
| By: | Anabela Marques Santos |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the spatial distribution of European Union research and innovation (R&I) funding, comparing excellence-oriented (Horizon 2020) and cohesion-oriented (Cohesion Policy) instruments, and analysing the role of governance level within Cohesion Policy. Using NUTS3-level data from the 2014-2020 programing period and spatial econometric models, we find that Horizon 2020 funding is concentrated in regions with high patent intensity, GDP per capita, and knowledge-intensive services, reinforcing cumulative advantage and contributing predominantly to within-country inequalities in access to funding. Cohesion R&I funding exhibits stronger between-country redistribution and integrates socio-economic vulnerability, though its internal allocation varies with governance: national management fosters clustering and positive spillovers, while regional management spreads resources more widely but intensifies intra-national competition. The results underscore the trade-offs inherent in EU R&I funding; policies that prioritise excellence, redistribution, or spatial coordination cannot maximise all objectives simultaneously, with governance choices mediating the balance between concentration, spillovers, and territorial equity. |
| Keywords: | R&I funding; Cohesion policy; Horizon 2020; Governance |
| Date: | 2026–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ict:wpaper:2013/404059 |