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on Urban and Real Estate Economics |
| By: | Rakesh Banerjee (University of Exeter Business School, Exeter, UK); Tushar Bharati (University of Western Australia Business School) |
| Abstract: | We examine the impact of school closures and the transition to online learning on the average learning outcomes of Australian children. Using longitudinal data on annual school-level performance in standardized assessments across five subjects and four grade levels, we analyze trends over 14 years (2008–2022, excluding 2020) for all Australian schools. Our analysis compares regions with varying levels of disruption to face-to-face teaching. Our findings indicate that COVID-related school closures led to a 0.17σ decline in standardized test scores (all-subject average). This decline occurs both in primary and secondary grades, affecting language and numeracy skills. The negative effects persist for at least three years after schools resumed in-person teaching. Heterogeneity analyses reveal that students from relatively advantaged background, who potentially made better use of the school inputs, suffered more. Additionally, we find i) school closures reduced learning disparities among secondary school students attending the same school as well as across secondary schools in a region, ii) schools with higher teacher-student ratios were better able to mitigate the negative effects of closures, and iii) government income support helped alleviate the adverse impact of school closures on student learning. |
| Keywords: | school closures, COVID-19, learning outcomes, standardized test scores |
| JEL: | I21 I24 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uwa:wpaper:25-01 |
| By: | Polina A. Popova (National Research University Higher School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | This study explores the relationship between preferential mortgage programs and regional mortgage lending in Russia during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent recovery period. Using quarterly data from 87 Russian regions, the research examines how preferential mortgage programs — Standard Preferential, Family, Far Eastern, and IT — were associated with lending growth and delinquency rates. The findings underscore the complex interplay between housing policies, regional economic conditions, and mortgage market activity under varying external economic shocks. The study reveals that overall mortgage lending volumes were higher during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods in regions with greater adoption of preferential mortgage programs. This pattern suggests that these programs supported housing market activity, particularly in economically resilient regions. However, regions with higher program utilization also experienced elevated delinquency rates, reflecting the challenges of balancing increased borrowing with financial risks. Program-specific analysis highlights variations in lending dynamics and emphasizes the importance of tailoring housing policies to regional and demographic needs, providing insights for designing adaptive support measures that promote mortgage market stability and economic recovery. |
| Keywords: | COVID-19, mortgage lending, preferential mortgage programs, Russian regions, financial stability. |
| JEL: | E31 G21 G51 H31 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hig:wpaper:97/fe/2025 |
| By: | Marco Pariguana (School of Economics, University of Edinburgh); Salvador Navarro (University of Western Ontario) |
| Abstract: | We study whether the academic effects of being marginally admitted to an elite science school depend on the admission year as a reflection of how school characteristics change over time. We take advantage of five years (2005-2009) of administrative data on a large centralized high school admission system. We find that the effect on mathematics test scores at the end of high school decreases each year, starting positive and statistically significant in 2005 and ending not significant by 2009. We show that the discontinuous jumps in peer quality and other school characteristics induced by elite school admission have not systematically changed. However, the gains in school quality decreased, affecting the treatment definition. Varying relative school quality limits the external validity of otherwise internally valid estimates. |
| Keywords: | School choice, Upper-secondary education, Education policy |
| JEL: | I21 I24 I28 J24 |
| Date: | 2025–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:edn:esedps:316 |
| By: | Judy Baker; Narae Choi; Manuel Gonzalez-Schuler; Dmitry Sivaev |
| Keywords: | Macroeconomics and Economic Growth-Economic Growth Urban Development-Urban Economics |
| Date: | 2023–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:41519 |
| By: | Fabian Bald; Marcel Henkel |
| Abstract: | This paper proposes that spatial policies improve economic outcomes by reducing barriers to supplying labour, with heterogeneous effects across demographic groups. Using quasi-experimental variation in Germany’s fiscal transfer system, we estimate higher employment elasticities for female workers, with the strongest impact in places where public childcare supply is smaller. We propose a quantitative spatial model incorporating location decisions and group-specific frictions to labour force participation. We establish that optimal spatial policy would not unambiguously direct resources to low-wage areas but additionally target regions with high labour supply elasticities, yielding substantial welfare and labour force gains in the aggregate. This paper argues that accounting for differential employment responses significantly alters optimal place-based policy design, highlighting a novel channel for addressing efficiency and equity concerns in ageing economies. |
| Keywords: | Place-Based Policies, Local Public Goods, Labour Force Participation, Fiscal Transfers, Spatial Sorting |
| JEL: | H41 H73 J16 J22 J61 R23 R58 |
| Date: | 2025–03–17 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bdp:dpaper:0063 |
| By: | Blair M. Turner; Eva M. Eichinger-Vill; Siba El-Samra; Claudia Adriazola-Steil; Alina F. Burlacu |
| Keywords: | Urban Development-Transport in Urban Areas |
| Date: | 2024–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:41240 |
| By: | Bianca Bianchi Alves; Lama Bou Mjahed; Joanna Moody |
| Keywords: | Urban Development-Transport in Urban Areas Environment-Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases |
| Date: | 2023–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:40373 |
| By: | Chandan Deuskar; Mark Roberts; Nicholas Jones; Jane Park |
| Keywords: | Urban Development-Urban Environment Urban Development-Urban Health Urban Development-Urban Housing Environment-Adaptation to Climate Change Social Protections and Labor-Labor Standards |
| Date: | 2023–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:40771 |
| By: | Keisuke Kondo (Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry and Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration, Kobe University, JAPAN) |
| Abstract: | This paper introduces the new Stata command moransi, which allows users to easily compute global and local Moran's I statistics in Stata. The fundamental feature of the moransi command is that the spatial weight matrix is constructed internally within a sequence of the program code. The additional information required in the dataset to implement this command are the latitude and longitude of regions. This paper presents two applied examples of the moransi command to deepen the understanding of global and local spatial autocorrelation. |
| Keywords: | Moransi; Moran's I; Global indicators of spatial association; Local indicators of spatial association; Spatial lag |
| JEL: | C87 |
| Date: | 2025–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kob:dpaper:dp2025-03 |
| By: | World Bank |
| Keywords: | Urban Development-Transport in Urban Areas |
| Date: | 2023–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:40672 |
| By: | World Bank |
| Keywords: | Transport-Airports and Air Services Urban Development-Transport in Urban Areas |
| Date: | 2023–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:40654 |
| By: | World Bank |
| Keywords: | Urban Development-Transport in Urban Areas Infrastructure Economics and Finance-Private Participation in Infrastructure |
| Date: | 2024–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:40830 |
| By: | , olaoyegodwin |
| Abstract: | Refinancing your real estate investment can be a smart financial move, but it's not without its pitfalls. As many property owners and investors have discovered, refinancing mistakes can be costly. To navigate this complex terrain successfully, it's crucial to have a deep understanding of the process and the potential pitfalls to avoid. In this article, we turn to the experts at Real Estate Funding Solutions to provide invaluable insights into refinancing mistakes and how to steer clear of them. |
| Date: | 2023–10–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:td7qn_v1 |
| By: | Salvatore Carrozzo; Elisabetta Lodigiani; Alessandra Venturini |
| Abstract: | The consumption of cultural goods can play a crucial role in the social and economic integration of immigrants into their destination country. In this paper, we investigate the effect of the cultural national program, IoStudio, designed to enhance the consumption of cultural goods - by providing free or discount access - among upper secondary students in Italy, on post-secondary investment in education and early labor market conditions among young immigrants. Using data from a unique survey conducted by the Institute for Multiethnic Studies (ISMU) on a representative sample of the entire immigrant population in the Italian Lombardy region and employing a difference-in differences estimator, we find that the IoStudio policy has positive effects on investment in post-secondary education. Additionally, young foreigners exposed to the policy exhibit higher earnings, at least in the short run, when they enter the labour market. We claim that cultural consumption by immigrants is a relevant concern, deserving close attention in terms of increasing social capital and labour market inclusion. |
| Keywords: | Cultural participation; migrants; integration; Italy |
| JEL: | Z11 J61 J62 I26 |
| Date: | 2025–03–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:csl:devewp:501 |
| By: | Sofoklis Goulas (Economic Studies, Brookings Institution, USA, and IZA); Rigissa Megalokonomou (Department of Economics, Monash University, Australia, IZA, and CESifo); Panagiotis Sotirakopoulos (Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, Curtin University, Australia) |
| Abstract: | We examine teachers’ perceptions toward top performing students and their role model influence on others in an online survey-based experiment. We randomly expose teachers to profiles of top performing students and inquire whether they consider the profiled top performers to be influential role models. These profiles varied by gender and field of study (STEM or Non-STEM). Our findings show that teachers perceive top-performing girls as more influential peer role models compared to top-performing boys (βˆ = 0.289; p |
| Keywords: | teacher gender stereotypes, randomized controlled trial, peer role models, STEM |
| JEL: | I21 I24 J16 D83 C90 |
| Date: | 2025–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mos:moswps:2025-02 |
| By: | Ali, Akber |
| Abstract: | ICT and Social Services Delivery in the Local Government Councils (LGCs) in Enugu State Nigeria |
| Date: | 2023–08–04 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:5pz34_v1 |
| By: | felix, John; , olaoyegodwin |
| Abstract: | The global real estate industry has always been closely tied to economic fluctuations, and the COVID-19 pandemic has been no exception. One of the most significant aspects affected by this crisis is real estate lending. In this article, we will explore the evolving landscape of funding solutions in the real estate sector and how the pandemic has reshaped the lending environment. |
| Date: | 2023–10–04 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:n6vm5_v1 |
| By: | Amelie Allegre (School of Economics, University of East Anglia); Oana Borcan (School of Economics, University of East Anglia); Christa Brunnschweiler (Department of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology) |
| Abstract: | We examine colonial-era primary education as a determinant of modern-day attainment and gender disparities in education. We construct a novel dataset from the French Protectorate in Morocco, combining archival data on colonial school locations in 1931 and 1954 with the most recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data in arbitrary grids. We analyse the influence of colonial schools on the probability of attaining primary and secondary education in 2004. Overall, schools dedicated to Moroccans in 1931 exhibit a persistent positive impact on education outcomes, but only in the absence of nearby schools reserved for Europeans. Stark gender gaps in access during the Protectorate were narrowed in places with schools for Jewish Moroccans. These had a positive impact on girls’ contemporary levels of education, but a negative impact on the enrolment for boys following the dismantling of Jewish communities after 1948. DHS measures of preferences for female education point to a social norms transmission mechanism between Jewish and Muslim Moroccan communities. |
| Keywords: | education, colonial legacy, female education, Morocco, French Protectorate |
| JEL: | N37 O15 I21 |
| Date: | 2025–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uea:ueaeco:2025-02 |
| By: | Nyabaro, Violet; Ogolla, Michael |
| Abstract: | Access to education is a priority for the Kenyan government reflected in increased budgetary allocation towards the sector, provision of free primary education and implementation of free day secondary school since 2003 and 2008, respectively. These policy decisions have led to an improvement in various education sector indicators including enrolment and dropout rates, higher retention and better transition rates across levels of basic education. The result of these efforts saw a 57 percent increase in primary school enrolment between 2003 and 2020 and secondary school enrolment increased by 79 percent between 2007 and 2020.The Kenyan government invests billions of shillings in School Feeding Programme (SFP)to encourage school enrollment, attendance, and completion, and to reduce regional and social disparities in education attainment. School feeding programme began in 1979 with a government led school milk program commonly called the Nyayo Milk. Subsequently, various school feeding programmes (SFPs) have been implemented by the national and county governments in conjunction with the World Food Programme (WFP), and other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). |
| Date: | 2024–04–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aer:wpaper:586686e6-f252-4db8-8887-b0f4139e9b8e |
| By: | Sofia Izquierdo Sanchez; William Tayler |
| Abstract: | Integrating research and teaching in higher education is a challenging yet important issue. Whilst evidence suggests that research quality in economics often correlates negatively with student satisfaction, incorporating research into the curriculum generally enhances student motivation and grades. We implemented an Instagram account as a supplementary resource across 4 courses in 2 universities. The account aimed to (1) introduce research-led teaching activities, (2) boost engagement, and (3) connect teaching to students’ real lives. Our findings reveal a positive link between student interaction with the account and improved percentile ranks, higher final grades, and successful course completion. This effect was notably stronger among students with specific learning difficulties. |
| Keywords: | social networks, education, engagement, research-led teaching |
| JEL: | A11 A2 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lan:wpaper:421808972 |
| By: | Adeolu Adewole, Musiliu Adeolu |
| Abstract: | Nigeria has made significant strides in expanding access to education through largescale programmes such as UPE and UBE. However, despite these efforts, disparities in school participation persist across different regions of the country. This study aims to shed light on the historical factors that contribute to these disparities, specifically looking at the relationship between pre-colonial centralization and investment in Koranic education on school participation.One of the key findings of this study is that areas under highly centralized political systems are more likely to participate in large-scale school expansion programmes such as UPE and UBE. This is in line with previous research that has shown a positive relationship between state centralization and development outcomes. However, the study also finds that areas with heavy investment in Koranic education have a negative effect on school enrolment, even when these areas before colonialism had highly centralized political structure. The findings highlight the mismatch between the demands of modern economic life and the skills possessed by a large section of the population. The contemporary world does not require Koranic education to make either regional or national advancement possible, yet many areas with heavy investment in Koranic education are falling behind in the education race. This calls for well-thought-out policies to address this mismatch and accelerate inclusive economic development. |
| Date: | 2024–03–30 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aer:wpaper:3aefe8b4-b9ed-4bba-9d8e-780970c7feb7 |
| By: | Oleche, Martine; Kamau, Paul; Muriithi, Moses; Njoka, John; Ngigi, Samuel |
| Abstract: | The COVID-19 pandemic affected the way children experience education and, by extension, the learning capability. It is evidenced that the longer they stayed out of school, the greater the risk of the poorest among them dropping out completely. Furthermore, even when they returned back to school their performance was dismal (Miguel and Kremer, 2004; UN, 2020). Access to learning technology during the period of closure in Kenya seems to have favored disproportionately the private schools pupils at the expense of public-school pupils. This in a sense introduced inequality in school attendance which to large extent was not justifiable. In addition, it contravened the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on quality education and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)10 on reduction of inequality. It is therefore clear that the pandemic adversely affected quality and quantity of learning outcomes in Kenya and more severely the poor households. |
| Date: | 2024–04–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aer:wpaper:8155995e-34cc-4e7a-abf2-cce6c668e4f3 |
| By: | Jośé Ignacio Giménez-Nadal (University of Zaragoza); José Alberto Molina (Departamento de Análisis Económico, Universidad de Zaragoza); Jorge Velilla (Departamento de Análisis Económico, Universidad de Zaragoza) |
| Abstract: | This paper develops a household-level model of commuting that allows to examine how commuting time, wages, labor supply, and consumption decisions interact within the household, and extends traditional urban and labor market models. The theoretical model integrates static and life-cycle perspectives and allows us to examine commut- ing patterns both across households and within households over time. We employ PSID data and address the potential endogeneity between commuting time and wages using GMM. Our findings indicate that, while cross-sectional analyses suggest a posi- tive correlation between wages and commuting, this relationship weakens significantly when adjusting for household heterogeneity and endogeneity. Additionally, we high- light a positive correlation between commuting time and consumption, and between the spouses’ commuting times. We further document how commuting patterns evolve over the life cycle, with household wealth reducing commuting durations while higher earnings increase them. Our results contribute to the literature on gender gaps, labor mobility, and urban economics by providing a household perspective on commuting and labor market outcomes. |
| Keywords: | Commuting; household behavior; wages; PSID. |
| JEL: | D12 D15 J22 J31 |
| Date: | 2025–03–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:boc:bocoec:1087 |
| By: | Giovanni Favara; Francesca Loria; Egon Zakrajšek |
| Abstract: | We use Zip code–level Statistics of Income data from the Internal Revenue Service to measure the distribution of income within U.S. metropolitan areas from 1998 through 2019. Exploiting geographic variation in income distribution over time, we study how unanticipated changes in the monetary policy stance shape the subsequent dynamics of income inequality. The results show that monetary policy persistently affects labor income inequality and that these distributional effects are amplified significantly in weak local labor markets. |
| Keywords: | income inequality; distributional impact of monetary policy; high-frequency monetary policy surprises; local labor markets |
| JEL: | E21 E52 E58 |
| Date: | 2025–01–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fip:fedbwp:99602 |
| By: | A.C. Pinate; M. Dal Molin; M.G. Brandano |
| Abstract: | This paper analyses the relationship between institutional quality and green innovation in Italian regions (NUTS2). We examine how varying levels of institutional quality influence the regional capacity to generate green innovation, disentangling the effects related to economic institutions (corruption, government effectiveness, and regulatory quality) from the impacts associated with political institutions (rule of law and voice and accountability). Using a panel of data for 2004–2018 on green patents, we use an instrumental variable IV approach to control for endogeneity and several robustness checks. Our results show that the most important drivers of green innovation are related to the quality of political institutions. These findings remain robust, even when checking for economic and environmental controls, demonstrating that green innovation is more related to political decisions and social capital than innovation in general is. |
| Keywords: | regional green innovation;green patents;Institutional Quality;italy |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cns:cnscwp:202508 |
| By: | World Bank |
| Keywords: | Education-Curriculum & Instruction Education-Effective Schools and Teachers Education-Public Examination System |
| Date: | 2023–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:40716 |
| By: | Ciro Avitabile; Lelys Dinarte Diaz; Renata Lemos |
| Keywords: | Education-Educational Institutions & Facilities Education-Effective Schools and Teachers Health, Nutrition and Population-Communicable Diseases Education-Education and Society |
| Date: | 2023–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:40697 |
| By: | World Bank |
| Keywords: | Environment-Forests and Forestry Agriculture-Forestry Management Environment-Climate Change Impacts Environment-Natural Resources Management Urban Development-Urban Environment |
| Date: | 2023–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:41683 |
| By: | Mark Ellis; Lee Fiorio; Thomas B. Foster |
| Abstract: | This paper explores the prevalence and characteristics of those who never migrate at the state scale in the U.S. Studying people who never migrate requires regular and frequent observation of their residential location for a lifetime, or at least for many years. A novel U.S. population-sized longitudinal dataset that links individual level Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) administrative records supplies this information annually, along with information on income and socio-demographic characteristics. We use these administrative microdata to follow a cohort aged between 15 and 50 in 2001 from 2001 to 2016, differentiating those who lived in the same state every year during this period (i.e., never made an interstate move) from those who lived in more than one state (i.e., made at least one interstate move). We find those who never made an interstate move comprised 75 percent of the total population of this age cohort. This percentage varies by year of age but never falls below 62 percent even for those who were teenagers or young adults in 2001. There are also variations in these percentages by sex, race, nativity, and income, with the latter having the largest effects. We also find substantial variation in these percentages across states. Our findings suggest a need for more research on geographically immobile populations in U.S. |
| Date: | 2025–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cen:wpaper:25-19 |
| By: | World Bank |
| Keywords: | Infrastructure Economics and Finance-Infrastructure Economics Urban Development-Urban Economic Development |
| Date: | 2024–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:41247 |
| By: | Richard Bullock; Martha Lawrence; Joanna Moody |
| Keywords: | Urban Development-Transport in Urban Areas Environment-Adaptation to Climate Change Environment-Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases Energy-Fuels |
| Date: | 2023–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:40529 |
| By: | NDOYE, Mamadou Laye; ATCHADE, Benedicte |
| Abstract: | Despite the implementation of a universal education policy in Senegal, the academic achievements of children by the end of the primary school cycle remains a major problem. Besides the acquisition of knowledge on the classical subjects that are taught in school, several other reasons related to family life were highlighted as determinants in academic achievements of learners. We pay specific interest to the impact of the mothers labour in a context whereby women are more and more involved in the labour market and are faced with serious difficulties in being able to reconcile their professional roles with their maternal obligations. Indeed, in Senegal, the employment of women, mostly in precarious and low paying jobs, prevents them from balancing their professional obligations with their maternal responsibilities, which has a negative impact on the academic achievements of their children. |
| Date: | 2024–03–30 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aer:wpaper:dd1e9839-c5a8-4b7e-a13c-cf3fb4ee76c6 |
| By: | Bram De Rock; Mariia Kovaleva; Tom Potoms |
| Abstract: | We study how house price shocks affect marital stability and household labor supply. We address this question using a dynamic collective household model with limited commitment. We find that positive house price shocks increase the divorce rate, and that leverage ratios such as loan-to-income (LTI) and loan-to-value (LTV) determine the transmission of house price shocks on divorce. Given its importance, we then analyze a tightening of the credit market through the LTI-limit. We show that neglecting the divorce and intra-household bargaining channels significantly biases the individual welfare effects of such policies. |
| Keywords: | Limited commitment, housing demand, labor supply, credit market policy |
| Date: | 2025–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eca:wpaper:2013/389796 |
| By: | World Bank |
| Keywords: | Urban Development-Urban Governance and Management Social Development-Social Inclusion & Institutions |
| Date: | 2024–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:40961 |
| By: | Yijia Chen; Kangmin Wu; |
| Abstract: | Artificial intelligence (AI) is a key driver of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Despite growing interest in the geography of AI, our understanding of how AI integrates into regional contexts remains limited. In response, we examine the integration of AI into regional technological domains in China and the United States using patent data. Theoretically, we develop a framework by introducing the concepts of intra- and extra-regional AI relatedness. Our findings reveal that the integration of AI into regional technological domains is positively associated with both intra-regional and extra-regional AI relatedness. Additionally, extra-regional AI relatedness can moderate the lack of intra-regional AI relatedness. |
| Keywords: | integration of artificial intelligence, intra-regional AI relatedness, extra-regional AI relatedness, regional technological domains, China, the United States |
| Date: | 2025–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:egu:wpaper:2507 |
| By: | Catherine Guirkinger (Development Finance and Public Policies, University of Namur); Quentin Stoeffler (Bordeaux School of Economics, University of Bordeaux) |
| Abstract: | We investigate how artisanal gold mining affect household investment in primary education in Burkina Faso. Using a variety of estimation methods with primary data and secondary data, we find a significant, robust and strong negative effect of artisanal mining on primary school enrolment for boys but not for girls. We explore potential channels and find that direct involvement in mining work does not explain the results. However, children appear to substitute for their parents working in mines (or other activities that developed after the mining boom). In addition, elicited perceived returns to primary education are negatively affected by the presence of mines. Both mechanisms suggest an indirect increase in the opportunity cost of education. We find no evidence of a negative income effect or of a change in school supply which could affect the direct cost of education. Our findings suggest that artisanal mining causes negative externalities on human capital accumulation that need to be addressed if mining is to contribute to poor household livelihoods. |
| Date: | 2025–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nam:defipp:2503 |
| By: | Henrika Langen |
| Abstract: | This study examines how regional and occupation-specific skilled labor shortages influence companies' involvement in apprenticeship training. It explores the relationship between skilled labor shortages and demand for apprentices, qualification requirements, new apprenticeship contracts, and premature contract terminations in Germany. Skilled labor shortages are measured using the ratio of unemployed skilled jobseekers to job vacancies and a skilled labor shortage indicator from the Federal Employment Agency. Involvement in apprenticeship training is measured using annual apprenticeship contract data. To estimate the relationship between skilled labor shortages and apprenticeship activities, the study uses a two-way fixed effects model and a robust difference-in-differences approach. The findings show that skilled labor shortages bring about higher demand for apprentices and more hires, with companies recruiting a larger share of apprentices with lower qualifications. However, the impact on premature contract terminations remains unclear. Additionally, the study reveals significant variation across occupations in how companies adjust apprenticeship practices. |
| Keywords: | Skilled Labor Shortages, Vocational Education and Training (VET), Apprenticeships |
| JEL: | M53 J63 |
| Date: | 2025–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iso:educat:0238 |
| By: | Mehic, Adrian (Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)); Mosaddegh, Arian (Confederation of Swedish Enterprise) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the impact of a Swedish policy allowing manufacturing firms to influence the curricula of local educational institutions. Our analysis shows that the program has contributed to a significant reduction in youth unemployment, as well as an increase in marriage rates and male fertility rates at the municipality level. We further show that these positive labor market outcomes are due to improved quality and relevance of vocational education, rather than an increase in the number of graduates. However, using data covering the universe of Swedish firms, we find that manufacturing firms in neighboring municipalities saw declines in productivity, suggesting some negative spillover effects of the program. |
| Keywords: | Youth unemployment; Vocational education; Fertility |
| JEL: | E24 I26 J12 J24 |
| Date: | 2025–03–04 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:iuiwop:1524 |
| By: | Julius Koschnick (University of Southern Denmark) |
| Abstract: | While economic factors in directed technical and scientific change have been widely studied, the role of teacher-directed scientific change has received little attention. This paper studies teacher-directed scientific change for one of the largest changes in the direction of research, the Scientific Revolution. Specifically, the paper considers the case of the English Scientific Revolution at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge during 1600-1720. It argues that exposure to different teachers shaped students' direction of research and can partly account for the successful trajectory of English science. For this, the paper introduces a novel dataset on the universe of 111, 242 students at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and their publications. Using natural language processing, the paper derives a measure of researchers' direction of research. To derive causal estimates of teacher-student effects, the paper uses an instrumental variable design that predicts students’ choice of college based on their home regions, a stacked differences-in-differences approach based on teachers leaving their college, and a natural experiment based on the expulsion of teachers following the English Civil War. The results illustrate how teacher-directed change can contribute to paradigm change. |
| Keywords: | Directed Technical Change, Knowledge Diffusion, Innovation, Human Capital, Natural Language Processing |
| JEL: | N33 I23 O33 O31 O43 O14 |
| Date: | 2025–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hes:wpaper:0274 |