|
on Urban and Real Estate Economics |
| By: | Joan Monràs |
| Abstract: | Immigrants are not just workers, they are also consumers. Yet most of the literature studying immigration has focused on the former. This paper uses detailed Spanish consumption survey data to characterize how immigrant consumption differs from that of natives. Immigrants are much more likely to rent than native households, even when controlling for many observable characteristics. Decompositions of the differences in consumption patterns between immigrants and natives show that most of the differences cannot be accounted for standard socio-economic characteristics like income, household size, and geography. Variation from the amnesty program implemented in Spain in 2005 suggests that a small part of the differences in housing tenure status depend on the fact that many immigrants lack work permits, and potentially, formal access to mortgage credit. |
| Keywords: | housing markets , assimilation , amnesty , Immigrant consumption |
| JEL: | J61 D12 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:upf:upfgen:1921 |
| By: | Zhang, Zhongxia |
| Abstract: | Real estate is an attractive investment asset because it provides positive cash flows from rents and prospects of valuation gains. This paper studies the housing market breakeven vacancy, the extent to which an investor needs to rent a property to equalize its costs and benefits. As a metric in rental property investment screening, investors are more likely to buy when the breakeven vacancy is high such that the transaction has a promising prospect of breakeven or better. An original asset pricing model is developed to define the housing market breakeven vacancy. The theoretical model reveals that the breakeven vacancy is not static but nonlinearly determined by housing price growth, price-to-rent ratios, interest rates, operating expenses, and rental income taxes. While higher housing price growth, lower interest rates, and smaller operating expenses lead to larger breakeven vacancies, price-to-rent ratios and rental income taxes hold theoretically ambiguous effects. Furthermore, housing market breakeven vacancies are estimated using country-level data from 12 developed nations and regional data from 30 U.S. metropolitan areas. Empirical analysis suggests that declining interest rates and rising price-to-rent ratios have fueled the ascent of breakeven vacancies until 2022, while house price collapses around crises have led to slumps in breakeven vacancies. Lastly, the housing market breakeven vacancy estimates are highly correlated with actual investment home purchases in the United States at national and regional levels, highlighting the practical relevance of this metric for income-producing property investments. |
| Keywords: | Housing market breakeven vacancies, rental property investments, investment home purchases, buy-to-let properties, real estate finance, housing economics. |
| JEL: | E43 G12 O18 R21 R51 |
| Date: | 2025–09–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:126187 |
| By: | Fagernäs, Sonja (University of Sussex); Pelkonen, Panu (University of Sussex); del Pozo Segura, Juan Manuel (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú) |
| Abstract: | We examine the urban learning and schooling premium in Peru using two approaches: 1) estimating the effect of local population density on pupils’ value-added in learning between grades two to eight, 2) quasi-experimental Census estimations on the effects of the duration of urban exposure in childhood on school attainment. Unconditional estimates show that a ten-fold increase in population density is associated with around 0.13 standard deviations higher value-added in learning. Conditional estimates suggest that this association is driven largely by sorting, captured mainly by household socio-economic status, and local area factors, reflecting agglomeration benefits. School resources, in turn, are unimportant. Finally, a higher population density also correlates with unobserved factors that can harm learning. The quasi-experimental estimations confirm a positive relationship between urban exposure and educational outcomes: a longer period of urban education leads to higher educational attainment and a higher likelihood of enrolment in the correct grade for age. |
| Keywords: | agglomeration, neighborhoods, learning, urbanization, Latin America |
| JEL: | I21 O15 R58 H75 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18177 |
| By: | Max Stick; Feng Hou; Haozhen Zhang |
| Abstract: | Understanding how international students use the housing market across different municipalities can inform policy and planning decisions regarding housing supply, urban infrastructure and services to better accommodate the needs of a diverse student population. This study uses the 2021 Census of Population to examine the extent to which international students engage in the rented and owned housing sectors and the share of students living in roommate households within these markets. The results show that the majority of international students depend on the rental market for their housing needs, ranging from 65% in Brampton to 92% in Montréal across the municipalities analyzed. International students living in rented homes were more likely to reside in roommate households than those living in owner-occupied homes. Among those living in owner-occupied homes, a large proportion were subtenants who likely paid rent but were not counted in the rental market. Across municipalities, there was substantial variability in the housing arrangements of international students, mostly reflecting the availability of rented housing stock and the sociodemographic characteristics of international students. |
| Keywords: | International students, rental market, roommate households, subtenants |
| JEL: | J23 M21 |
| Date: | 2024–12–19 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp8e:202401200003e |
| By: | Gabriel Chaves Bosch (Queen Mary University of London); Cem Özgüzel (Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne, Paris School of Economics et IZA) |
| Abstract: | Does the presence of migrants influence innovation at the local level? This paper answers this question using novel data containing fine-grained information on the migrant population and geo-coded data on patent locations for a large set of 19 OECD countries over the 1990-2014 period. We find that a one percentage point increase in the local migrant share increases patent applications by 2.5%. This effect is driven by more urbanised and economically developed localities, where innovation levels are already higher to begin with. However, this impact becomes insignificant when aggregating observations at larger geographical levels, suggesting that the effect of migration on innovation is concentrated in space and features high rates of spatial decay |
| Keywords: | Migration; Innovation; Patents; OECD countries; local |
| JEL: | O31 J61 R11 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mse:cesdoc:25021 |
| By: | Fagernäs, Sonja (University of Sussex); de la Fuente Stevens, Diego (University of Sussex); Pelkonen, Panu (University of Sussex); del Pozo Segura, Juan Manuel (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú) |
| Abstract: | In the 2010s, Peru experienced an increase in public educational investment, a substantial improvement in public school learning outcomes, and an erosion in the private sector learning premium. We use longitudinal, geo-coded register data on primary schools and pupils in urban areas to study how the improvement in public schooling affected private schools. With a difference in differences (DiD) framework, we demonstrate that the increase in public school quality reduced enrolment and test scores in private schools, primarily in areas with lower education levels. A staggered DiD analysis shows that new public school openings also reduced enrolment in nearby private schools. |
| Keywords: | education policy, school quality, school competition, Latin America |
| JEL: | H52 I20 L33 N36 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18189 |
| By: | Blamey Amelia (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research); Arthur Grimes (Victoria University of Wellington); Norman Gemmell (Victoria University of Wellington) |
| Abstract: | Between 2005 and 2021, New Zealand house prices rose by 142%, partly driven by inflationary macroeconomic policies. This paper explores the extent to which higher property prices (i.e. house prices and rents) affect measures of objective and subjective wellbeing, and how these effects vary by housing tenure. We measure objective wellbeing using non-housing consumption expenditure (NHE) and subjective wellbeing through life satisfaction. Housing tenure types include private renters, public renters, outright homeowners, and mortgaged homeowners. Our empirical strategy estimates the effect of property prices on each wellbeing indicator by tenure type. We also identify contributions of monetary policy to property price developments. Using survey data from 84, 732 representative households collected by StatsNZ, we find that, relative to outright owners, higher property prices are associated with a decline in NHE for each of private renters, public renters and mortgaged homeowners. In addition, relative to homeowners, renters report significantly lower life satisfaction as house prices rise, with heterogeneous effects depending on age, income and local house price: rent ratios. Our results indicate that macroeconomic policies, operating through the property market, can exacerbate wellbeing inequalities associated with housing tenure. |
| Keywords: | House prices, rents, monetary policy, subjective wellbeing, expenditure, housing tenure |
| JEL: | D12 D31 E65 I31 R21 R31 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mtu:wpaper:25_09 |
| By: | Luisa Alamá-Sabater (Department of Economics and IIDL, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain); Joan Crespo (Department of Economic Structure, Universidad de Valencia, Spain); Miguel Ángel Márquez (Department of Economics, Universidad de Extremadura, Spain); Emili Tortosa-Ausina (IVIE, Valencia and IIDL and Department of Economics, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain) |
| Abstract: | We empirically evaluate how the efficiency of Spanish public universities impacts regional economic performance in Spain during the period 2010–2019. Efficiency is measured using activity analysis methods that attempt to capture reflect how universities perform in their respective missions—namely, teaching, research, and knowledge transfer. We analyse the geography of higher education by examining efficiency at the provincial (NUTS3) and regional (NUTS2) levels, as well as for groups of regions (NUTS1). Our results offer several key insights. First, we find that geography plays a differential role primarily when knowledge transfer activities are considered, while geographical patterns are similar for teaching and research activities. Second, the impact of universities’ efficiency on regional economic activity varies across different outcome measures. While provinces with more efficient public university systems show higher labor productivity and capital intensity levels, there is no significant relationship with per capita income. The spatial analysis indicates that efficiency gains generate indirect and positive spillovers, particularly for capital intensity, suggesting that improvements in university performance can benefit broader regional areas. Additionally, institutional quality, measured through regional government performance indicators, reinforces these effects. Our findings suggest that policies aimed at enhancing university efficiency should prioritise the research mission. Among the three university missions, research has the greatest impact on improving productive processes and is the most effective in fostering regional economic development. |
| Keywords: | bias-corrected efficiency; capital intensity; higher education institutions; regional growth; productivity |
| JEL: | C61 J24 R11 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jau:wpaper:2025/09 |
| By: | Steinhoff, Brigitte |
| Abstract: | The increasing complexity of issues relating to the availability of affordable housing in Germany demands a sophisticated understanding of public sensitivities and policy frameworks. The study applies a grounded theory methodology to explore how the acceptance of affordable housing is shaped at the federal, state, and local levels. The data is systematically coded and compared based on eleven in-depth expert interviews, with the aim of creating a taxonomy of acceptance consisting of four dimensions: governmental issues, public debate and image, solidarity and responsibility, and promotion the right on housing. The analysis indicates that subsidies and political will are essential, but these factors alone cannot ensure long-term sustainability without the presence of stable regulations, the involvement of communities in planning, and strategies to reduce stigmatisation. Historical stereotypes and selective media coverage continue to hinder acceptance, but grounded theory shows how solidarity, discourse and a rights-based framework can reframe housing as a social good. The study demonstrates that acceptance is more than merely a technical problem-solving process; rather, it is a systemic and comprehensive process. By redefining housing as a fundamental right and cornerstone of urban diversity, this research invites stakeholders to view affordable housing not as residual welfare, but as essential infrastructure for social justice and a sustainable urban future. |
| Keywords: | grounded theory; acceptance of affordable housing; housing governance; governmental issues; right to housing |
| JEL: | B41 I38 R31 R38 |
| Date: | 2025–09–15 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:126168 |
| By: | Matthew Brown; Mark Brown; Ryan Macdonald |
| Abstract: | This article presents an exploratory analysis of the relationship between the population, firm counts and average property crime from 2017 to 2020 across the Toronto census metropolitan area (CMA). It combines datasets from different domains—crime, business counts and population data—using 500 m by 500 m spatial grids to explore their relationships. At this scale, residential and business land use can be at least partially separated, allowing the independent association between residential populations, business counts and crime to be measured and mapped across the Toronto CMA. This analysis provides a picture of the spatial pattern of crimes across the CMA, explores and validate the data by establishing expected baseline relationships, and points towards areas for more in-depth analysis to determine the relationship between crime and business outcomes. After accounting for the population of grid squares, a positive association between business counts and crime was found, consistent with previous work. Furthermore, after considering population and firm counts, statistically significant spatial clusters of high (and low) crime rates were found. This work therefore sets the foundation for future analysis that would examine how variations in crime rates across space and time affect business outcomes (e.g., firm profitability and exit). |
| Keywords: | property crime, firms, businesses, spatial crime patterns, geospatial analysis, crime hotspots |
| JEL: | J23 M21 |
| Date: | 2024–11–27 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp8e:202401100001e |
| By: | Rok, Jakub; Grodzicki, Maciej; Podsiadło, Martyna |
| Abstract: | The balance between environmental protection and socioeconomic development is a critical policy challenge. Conservation efforts may constrain local development but can also generate benefits beyond nature protection itself, with effects varying across protection regimes and spatial scales. Poland presents a compelling case to examine this trade-off, given its rapid economic growth and significant expansion of PAs in recent decades. This study assesses the relationship between nature protection regimes and local development across Polish municipalities from 2009 to 2022. Using spatial econometric modelling (Spatial Durbin Error Model), we analyse the direct and indirect effects of national parks, nature reserves, and Natura 2000 sites on three dimensions of local development: economic, social, and infrastructural. The most consistent positive effects are observed for economic development in municipalities with high share of national parks and Natura 2000 sites. The effects on infrastructure development are limited: only Natura 2000 sites show a positive direct effect, while negative indirect effects suggest regional competition for investment. The social impacts of protection are predominantly negative, especially for stricter protection regimes. Moreover, these effects extend beyond administrative boundaries, likely due to interlinked labour markets. These findings challenge the notion that conservation uniformly hinders economic development. Instead, they suggest that outcomes differ depending on the protection regime, and that benefits are unevenly distributed – supporting local economic growth while reinforcing social exclusion. The study underscores the need for policies that mitigate social costs and promote more just and integrated development under expanding conservation efforts. |
| Keywords: | conservation policy; protected areas; Local Development; Natura 2000; Protection regime; Spatial spillovers |
| JEL: | Q5 R14 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:126400 |
| By: | Treb Allen; Woan Foong Wong; Simon Fuchs |
| Abstract: | How do we evaluate the welfare gains from transportation infrastructure investment? We present a quantitative spatial framework that integrates both traffic and economic responses to infrastructure investment and derive the elasticity of aggregate welfare to improvements in the transportation network. This approach extends the traditional "social savings" method to incorporate agglomeration and dispersion externalities and endogenous traffic congestion. We calibrate the model to the US freight transport network and assess the welfare impact of upgrading segments of the US Interstate Highway System, quantifying the marginal gains from improvements in specific corridors and highlighting where the returns to investment are highest. |
| Keywords: | transportation networks; infrastructure; social savings; quantitative spatial models |
| JEL: | H54 R12 R13 R41 R42 |
| Date: | 2025–10–14 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fip:fedawp:101968 |
| By: | Wilhelmsson, Mats (Department of Real Estate and Construction Management, Royal Institute of Technology) |
| Abstract: | This study examines whether neighbourhoods in Stockholm that became more mixed in housing tenure between 2015 and 2023 also experienced increased income diversity. Using data for 1, 287 neighbourhoods, the analysis applies entropy-based diversity indices, two-way fixed-effects models, and staggered difference-in-differences estimators. The results show a small but statistically significant positive impact: neighbourhoods with increasing tenure diversity get small gains in income diversity. The effect is context-dependent and more pronounced in urban settings, areas dominated by home ownership, and lower-income neighbourhoods. Changes in educational and population diversity are more related to income diversity than to shifts in household type or citizenship. In general, the findings suggest that while tenure diversification can support income mixing, its impact remains limited without complementary housing and equity policies. |
| Keywords: | income diversity; housing tenure; mixed-tenure neighbourhoods; entropy |
| JEL: | R21 R23 R31 |
| Date: | 2025–10–20 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:kthrec:2025_012 |
| By: | Fernando Gómez-Zaldívar (Tecnologico de Monterrey); Manuel Gómez-Zaldívar (Universidad de Guanajuato); Marco Aurelio Sotelo-Figueroa (Universidad de Guanajuato) |
| Abstract: | We estimate contagion rates in the manufacturing sector across Mexico's municipalities, conceptualized as the diffusion of municipal manufacturing specialization and reflected in the regional transmission of industrial expertise, technological capabilities, and skilled labor practices. High contagion rates indicate that specialized manufacturing capabilities are rapidly adopted by other regions. This can lead to the development of industrial clusters where knowledge sharing and advanced techniques drive economic growth. To analyze this issue, we begin by determining the specialization of Mexican municipalities in different manufacturing industry groups and study the diffusion of specialization over time by state and industry group in the periods 2004–2009, 2009–2014, and 2014–2019. |
| Keywords: | Specialization; Diffusion; Manufacturing industry groups. |
| JEL: | O14 O33 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gnt:wpaper:14 |
| By: | Wendy Kei; Feng Hou; Haozhen Zhang |
| Abstract: | Amid growing concerns in Canada over housing affordability, questions have arisen about non-permanent residents’ experience in the Canadian rental market. Some media sources have indicated that non-permanent residents are disproportionately affected by the ongoing housing crisis. This study uses data from the 2021 Census of Population to examine whether international students and temporary foreign workers face higher rental costs than the Canadian-born population (non-immigrants) and longer-term immigrants (those who were admitted more than five years preceding the census year). It also explores the factors contributing to disparities in rental expenses among these groups. The study shows that, on average, international students paid 10% more in monthly rental costs per rental unit, while temporary foreign workers paid 21% more, compared with Canadian-born individuals living in the same urban area before adjusting for neighbourhood, dwelling and household characteristics. The differences in rental costs observed for temporary foreign workers relative to Canadian-born individuals dropped to 5% when comparing renters with similar household characteristics living in the same neighbourhood and in similar dwellings. The higher rental costs paid by international students within a given urban area (or neighbourhood) can be entirely accounted for by differences in dwelling characteristics, as international students were less likely than Canadian-born individuals to reside in subsidized housing and more likely to live in condominiums and newer buildings. |
| Keywords: | international students, temporary foreign workers, rental cost, neighbourhood |
| JEL: | J23 M21 |
| Date: | 2024–10–23 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp8e:202401000004e |
| By: | Stephan Heblich; Dávid Krisztián Nagy; Alex Trew; Yanos Zylberberg |
| Abstract: | Does industrial concentration shape the life and death of cities? We identify settlements from historical maps of England and Wales (1790–1820), isolate exogenous variation in their late 19th-century size and industrial concentration, and estimate the causal impact of size and concentration on later dynamics. Industrial concentration has a negative effect on long-run productivity—independent of industry trends and consistent with cross-industry Jacobs externalities. A spatial model quantifies the role of fundamentals, industry trends, and Jacobs externalities in shaping industry-city dynamics and isolates a new, dynamic trade-off in the design of place-based policies. |
| Date: | 2025–04–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bri:uobdis:25/797 |
| By: | Chaudhary, Latika (Naval Postgraduate School); Dupraz, Yannick (Paris Dauphine University, PSL University, LEDA, CNRS, IRD); Fenske, James (Department of Economics, University of Warwick) |
| Abstract: | Combining detailed data on language and migration across colonial Indian districts in 1901 with a gravity model, we find origin and destination districts separated by more dissimilar languages saw less migration. We control for the physical distance between origin-destination pairs, several measures of dissimilarity in geographic characteristics, as well as origin and destination fixed effects. The results are robust to a regression discontinuity design that exploits spatial boundaries across language groups. We also find linguistic differences predict lower migration in 2001. Cultural channels are a small part of the link from linguistic diversity to lower migration. Rather, the evidence suggests communication and information channels are more important. |
| Keywords: | Migration ; Linguistic Diversity ; India JEL Codes: N35 ; O15 ; Z13 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wrk:warwec:1580 |
| By: | He, Meng-Yun |
| Abstract: | This article examines the triple migration of young female live streamers performing street entertainment in Shenzhen, China. These second-generation rural-to-urban migrants navigate three intersecting trajectories: spatial mobility to urban centres, digital migration onto live-streaming platforms as precarious workplaces, and embodied negotiation of liminality where their bodily experiences blur online-offline boundaries. Drawing on multisensory ethnographic fieldwork, this study explores how sensory experiences, platform governance and systemic inequalities shape these women's precarious livelihoods. Beneath their public performances lie burnout, stigma and hidden injuries of inequality. By situating these women's experiences at the intersection of class, gender, rural-urban migration and platform capitalism, this research uncovers the intimate cost of precarious digital labour. It also highlights their resilience and creativity in navigating structural barriers. This study contributes to empirical and theoretical discussions on gendered labour, digital precarity and affective politics of precarity in contemporary urban China. |
| Keywords: | multisensory ethnography; rural-to-urban migration; platform gendered labour; digital precarity; embodied liminality; structural inequality |
| JEL: | R14 J01 |
| Date: | 2025–10–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:129509 |
| By: | Antonio Di Paolo (AQR-IREA, University of Barcelona) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates whether acquiring proficiency in a local language improves neighbourhood quality in a bilingual region, focusing on Catalonia, Spain. The analysis uses rich microdata linked to census-tract measures of neighbourhood quality, including average local income, unemployment benefits per capita, and a composite socioeconomic status index. OLS results show that oral proficiency in Catalan among native Spanish speakers is associated with better residential outcomes. To address potential endogeneity of language skills, I exploit the implementation of a language-ineducation policy that introduced Catalan as a medium of instruction, promoting Catalan-Spanish bilingualism among native Spanish speakers. Specifically, I construct an instrument consisting in the interaction between years of language exposure during compulsory education and an indicator for native Spanish speakers, considering that the reform did not affect oral Catalan proficiency among native Catalan speakers and assuming cohort trends unrelated to the reform are homogeneous across language groups. IV/TSLS estimates reveal no causal effect of increased oral Catalan skills, induced by school language exposure among native Spanish speakers, on any measure of neighbourhood quality. Falsification exercises aimed at validating the main identification assumption, along with robustness checks addressing potential confounders and alternative mechanisms, support the identification strategy and reinforce the main findings. Overall, the results suggest that although the reform significantly raised oral Catalan proficiency among native Spanish speakers, this variation in language skills does not translate into changes in residential sorting or neighbourhood quality. |
| Keywords: | local language skills, bilingualism, language-in-education policy, neighbourhood quality JEL classification:I28, Z13 R23 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aqr:wpaper:202507 |
| By: | Abhishek Seth (Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee); Manish Kumar Singh (Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, xKDR Forum); Diya Uday (xKDR Forum) |
| Abstract: | Property tax is the most important source of own revenue for Indian cities, yet it has failed to keep pace with rapid urban economic growth. In this paper, we address this gap in two steps: first, we measure whether property taxes in India are buoyant, that is, whether they rise proportionately with income; and second, we examine whether buoyancy differs systematically across valuation systems - Annual Rental Value (ARV), Unit Area Value (UAV), and Capital Value (CV). Using a balanced panel of 2, 470 Urban Local Bodies in 23 states (2018-19 to 2022-23) from the City-Finance portal, we estimate buoyancy via fixed-effects regressions linking property tax demand to nominal GSDP. Our findings suggest modest overall buoyancy (0.96), with ARV outperforming CV and UAV. Robustness checks confirm the pattern, highlighting that valuation implementation quality, not statutory form, drives revenue responsiveness in rapidly urbanizing economies. |
| JEL: | H2 H71 H72 C23 R51 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:anf:wpaper:42 |
| By: | Claude Diebolt; Michael Haupert |
| Abstract: | This article celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of Région et Développement by revisiting the dialogue it has nurtured between development economics and spatial economics. We situate our contribution within this tradition by engaging with selected chapters from the Handbook of Cliometrics, highlighting how long-run historical perspectives can illuminate contemporary spatial and territorial dynamics. Building on the contribution of Diebolt and Hippe in Région et Développement, we extend their cliometric approach to examine the persistence of disparities, the role of institutions, and the impact of policy interventions. Our analysis emphasizes that territorial development must be understood within long-term trajectories shaped by demographic forces, shocks, and innovations. We argue that historically grounded and spatially sensitive perspectives are essential for designing effective policies aimed at reducing regional inequalities. By weaving together insights from cliometrics and regional development, our study illustrates the value of connecting historical causality with spatial analysis. In doing so, we reaffirm the journal’s mission of combining analytical rigor with societal relevance. |
| Keywords: | Forest Regional development, Cliometrics, Territorial disparities, Institutions and public policy, Long-term historical dynamics. |
| JEL: | N10 N90 O18 R11 R58 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ulp:sbbeta:2025-43 |
| By: | Tatsuru Kikuchi |
| Abstract: | I develop a nonparametric framework for identifying spatial boundaries of treatment effects without imposing parametric functional form restrictions. The method employs local linear regression with data-driven bandwidth selection to flexibly estimate spatial decay patterns and detect treatment effect boundaries. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that the nonparametric approach exhibits lower bias and correctly identifies the absence of boundaries when none exist, unlike parametric methods that may impose spurious spatial patterns. I apply this framework to bank branch openings during 2015--2020, matching 5, 743 new branches to 5.9 million mortgage applications across 14, 209 census tracts. The analysis reveals that branch proximity significantly affects loan application volume (8.5\% decline per 10 miles) but not approval rates, consistent with branches stimulating demand through local presence while credit decisions remain centralized. Examining branch survival during the digital transformation era (2010--2023), I find a non-monotonic relationship with area income: high-income areas experience more closures despite conventional wisdom. This counterintuitive pattern reflects strategic consolidation of redundant branches in over-banked wealthy urban areas rather than discrimination against poor neighborhoods. Controlling for branch density, urbanization, and competition, the direct income effect diminishes substantially, with branch density emerging as the primary determinant of survival. These findings demonstrate the necessity of flexible nonparametric methods for detecting complex spatial patterns that parametric models would miss, and challenge simplistic narratives about banking deserts by revealing the organizational complexity underlying spatial consolidation decisions. |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2510.13148 |
| By: | Mauro Lanati; Rainer Thiele |
| Abstract: | Research on the nexus between development and migration has mainly focused on cross-border flows. How income changes affect migration within developing countries is much less well researched even though addressing this topic might provide essential information about the process of structural transformation needed for economic development. In this paper, we provide new evidence on the link between income growth and internal migration for Malawi, one of the poorest countries worldwide where migration is predominantly internal. Employing a gravity approach and performing an instrumental variable regression based on a shift-share instrument, we robustly find that, on average, rising incomes – proxied by changes in nightlight intensity – are associated with higher emigration rates. This effect is mainly driven by people emigrating from comparably richer urban areas. In the poorer rural districts, by contrast, migration tends to fall with increasing economic activity, which is in accordance with the notion that poverty may force people to leave their home in response to negative shocks. Our results also suggest a specific sorting pattern by education levels: While in urban areas rising incomes mainly facilitate the emigration of lower-skilled people to non-urban destinations, in rural areas it is higher-skilled people who most likely leave their home in response to falling incomes. |
| Keywords: | Economic development; Internal Migration; Malawi; Sub-Saharan Africa |
| JEL: | O55 R23 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:frz:wpaper:wp2025_15.rdf |
| By: | Shweta Bahl; Ajay Sharma |
| Abstract: | Using nationally representative data for India, this paper examines the incidence of education occupation mismatch and returns to education and EOM for internal migrants while considering the heterogeneity among them. In particular, this study considers heterogeneity arising because of the reason to migrate, demographic characteristics, spatial factors, migration experience, and type of migration. The analysis reveals that there exists variation in the incidence and returns to EOM depending on the reason to migrate, demographic characteristics, and spatial factors. The study highlights the need of focusing on EOM to increase the productivity benefits of migration. It also provides the framework for minimizing migrants' likelihood of being mismatched while maximizing their returns to education. |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2510.15420 |
| By: | Fernández-Huertas Moraga, Jesús (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid) |
| Abstract: | International migrants choose their country of residence to maximize their utility. As a result, their choices are informative about the relative attractiveness of countries. This paper explains why Spain became the fourth most attractive country in the world for international migrants in the period 2015-2024, what I define as the Second Spanish Immigration Boom of the century. First, an accounting decomposition shows how, contrary to other destinations, Spanish-specific factors, correlated with economic conditions and general migration policies, have a larger weight in explaining immigration to Spain than origin-specific factors. Second, the causal relevance of bilateral visa policies is also shown, particularly in the context of Latin American immigrants, by using origins that are required a visa to enter Spain as a control for visa-free access countries in a generalized differences-in-differences setting. Finally, the effects of the Boom on immigrant selection are also analyzed, finding that the Second Boom was different from the first because educational selection improved. |
| Keywords: | gravity model, international migration, selection |
| JEL: | F22 J11 J61 O15 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18185 |
| By: | Laura Panza; Yanos Zylberberg |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the grassroots of nation-building in times of mass migration. We study the emergence of cohesive communities and societal leadership within the scattered, diverse Jewish settlements of Mandatory Palestine between 1920 and 1947. Our empirical strategy relies on a new “frontier expansion†algorithm to predict the dynamics of Jewish settlement creation, which we combine with migrant characteristics in a shift-share design to isolate exogenous variation in the local composition of settlers across locations. We find that: (i) leaders who played a crucial role in shaping the early state of Israel emerged from diverse communities; (ii) these communities were more cohesive and maintained better relationships with Arab neighbors; and (iii) these effects are predominantly observed in kibbutzim, i.e., integrated settlements with communal lifestyle. Further evidence suggests that these diverse, tight-knit communities were facing and addressing nation-building challenges at a local level, e.g., setting up institutions to foster a shared identity. |
| Date: | 2025–04–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bri:uobdis:25/796 |
| By: | Feng Hou; Max Stick |
| Abstract: | Canada has long been a destination for American expatriates because of its geographic proximity, familiar culture and similar socioeconomic environment. However, migration flows have historically fluctuated in response to economic, political and social factors (Boyd, 1981; Kobayashi & Ray, 2005). Notably, shifts in U.S. administration policies—particularly those affecting immigration, labour markets and social stability—have influenced U.S. residents’ intentions to move north (Croucher, 2011). |
| Keywords: | migration, Canada, United States, immigration, temporary residents |
| JEL: | J23 M21 |
| Date: | 2025–03–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp8e:202500300004e |
| By: | Rau, Tomás |
| Abstract: | The widespread use of mobile devices among adolescents has led many schools and governments to consider or implement restrictions on their usage. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the effects of school cellphone policies on student outcomes, focusing primarily on student well-being and classroom dynamics. Using detailed microdata from the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) across 81 countries, the study finds that stricter cellphone policies are associated with significant reductions in classroom distractions and lower levels of student-reported anxiety related to mobile-device use, even under mild enforcement conditions. Moreover, when bans are effectively enforced, measurable improvements in standardized test scores emerge, providing clarity to previously inconclusive findings in the literature. Subgroup analyses reveal limited heterogeneity, although private school students experience greater anxiety reductions. Policy recommendations emphasize the critical role of enforcement, the importance of targeted approaches tailored to school context and socioeconomic differences, and the necessity of continuous policy evaluation and adaptation. |
| JEL: | I21 I31 O33 J24 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:14306 |
| By: | Clifton-Sprigg, Joanna (University of Bath); Homburg, Ines (University of Antwerp); Huyghe, Anneleen (University of Antwerp); Vujic, Suncica (University of Antwerp) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the effect of the Brexit process on international student migration from the European Union (EU) to the United Kingdom (UK). Using administrative data on higher education students in the UK, we employ a dynamic and a synthetic difference-in-differences estimator to compare EU to non-EU students. We show that the Brexit referendum itself and the introduction of visa requirements did not affect EU student migration. However, the introduction of higher tuition fees led to a large reduction in EU student applications to UK universities and colleges, and, subsequently, a decline in place offers, student acceptances, and enrolments. The effect ranges from 48% to 64%. Our findings suggest that increased tuition fees acted as a deterrent for EU students wanting to study in the UK. |
| Keywords: | United Kingdom, synthetic difference-in-differences, international student mobility, European Union, Brexit, higher education |
| JEL: | J61 C21 O15 I28 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18178 |
| By: | Paglialunga, Elena; Resce, Giuliano; Zanoni, Angela |
| Abstract: | This paper predicts regional unemployment in the European Union by applying machine learning techniques to a dataset covering 198 NUTS-2 regions, 2000 to 2019. Tree-based models substantially outperform traditional regression approaches for this task, while accommodating reinforcement effects and spatial spillovers as determinants of regional labor market outcomes. Inflation—particularly energy-related—emerges as a critical predictor, highlighting vulnerabilities to energy shocks and green transition policies. Environmental policy stringency and eco-innovation capacity also prove significant. Our findings demonstrate the potential of machine learning to support proactive, place-sensitive interventions, aiming to predict and mitigate the uneven socioeconomic impacts of structural change across regions. |
| Keywords: | Regional unemployment; Inflation; Environmental policy; Spatial spillovers; Machine learning. |
| JEL: | E24 J64 Q52 R23 |
| Date: | 2025–10–15 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mol:ecsdps:esdp25101 |
| By: | Gianmarco Daniele; Marco De Simoni; Domenico J. Marchetti; Giovanna Marcolongo; Paolo Pinotti |
| Abstract: | We show that credit constraints significantly increase the risk that firms are infiltrated by organized crime, defined as the covert involvement of criminal organizations in corporate decision-making. Using confidential data on criminal investigations, credit ratings, and loan histories for the universe of Italian firms, we find that a downgrade to substandard credit status reduces credit availability by 30% over five years and increases the probability of infiltration by 5%, relative to comparable firms. A local randomization design comparing firms just above and below the downgrade threshold confirms this result. The effect is pervasive across sectors and regions, but particularly strong in real estate, where the probability of infiltration rises by 10% following a downgrade. Infiltrated firms also display higher survival rates than other downgraded firms, despite similar declines in employment and revenues. These findings suggest that organized crime can serve as a financial backstop – sustaining non-viable businesses and potentially redirecting their strategies to serve criminal interests. |
| Keywords: | Organized crime, Firms, Bank Credit |
| JEL: | G32 K42 L25 O17 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:baf:cbafwp:cbafwp25255 |
| By: | Emilia Del Bono; Angus Holford; Tommaso Sartori |
| Abstract: | We study the effects of academic rank using data on the entire population of children enrolled in primary schools in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1962. Exploiting quasi-random variation in peer group composition, we estimate the causal impact of rank on academic performance, noncognitive development, parental investment, and long-term outcomes. Higher rank improves achievement on the high-stakes eleven-plus examination and strengthens internalizing skills (traits related to self-concept and confidence), suggesting that rank effects operate primarily through students' self-perception. Using a follow-up survey conducted forty years later, we find that rank raises educational attainment, particularly for girls, while long-term income gains emerge only among boys. The gender gap in long-run effects likely reflects historical barriers to women's access to higher education and skilled employment during this period. |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2510.11973 |
| By: | Scholl, Lynn; Arellana, Julián; Cantillo, Víctor; Ojeda-Diaz, Alfredo J.; Oviedo, Daniel; Sabogal-Cardona, Orlando |
| Abstract: | Microtransit, or app-based collective transport, is a passenger transport service typically offered in medium-capacity vehicles using mobile phone apps. This service provides the advantages of public transport, allowing for more efficient use of vehicles, offering new opportunities to improve informal transit systems and reduce urban inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean. This research examines how the level of service attributes, socioeconomic characteristics, and latent constructs (technological affinity, environmental attitudes, and security concerns in public transport) influence the willingness to use these services through two case studies in Mexico City, Mexico, and Barranquilla, Colombia. Data for this study comes from stated preference and perception surveys, which are commonly used in a psychometric and econometric approach to estimate integrated choice and latent variable models. The results indicate a high sensitivity to the price of the service. Attributes such as walking distance to access the service, travel time, service frequency, and schedule adherence reliability were also significant. There are substantial income differences in willingness to use microtransit services. Fare sensitivity is much higher among poorer segments of the population, affecting the potential of microtransit to address equity and inclusion issues in the cities studied. Of the latent constructs, only safety concerns about public transport were significant in the willingness to use microtransit services in both cities. When compared to men, women reported higher safety concerns and, as result, women have higher preference for microtransit services. Considering the results obtained from the modelling, sevearl policy considerations and actions are suggested to encourage the use of microtransit in the region and take advantage of its potential as a sustainable transport mode. |
| JEL: | O14 R42 R58 Z18 |
| Date: | 2025–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:14310 |
| By: | Lu Han; Stephan Heblich; Christopher Timmins; Yanos Zylberberg |
| Abstract: | As urban populations grow, more people face extreme heat, increasing demand for natural cooling. Urban trees offer various amenities, including cooling benefits, yet their economic value is hard to quantify. This paper estimates the implicit value of urban trees by exploiting the Emerald Ash Borer infestation caused by an invasive beetle that kills ash trees in Toronto as an exogenous shock. We find that a one-percentage-point increase in a postcode’s tree cover raises property prices by 1.16% and reduces exposure to extreme heat, pollution, and energy consumption. These findings underscore trees as a cost-effective, practical strategy for mitigating urban warming. |
| Date: | 2025–04–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bri:uobdis:25/791 |
| By: | Michela Laura Bergamini; Leo Sleuwaegen; Bart Van Looy |
| Abstract: | Since the introduction of the notion ‘creative class’, artists have been portrayed as contributing to the innovation dynamics of cities and regions. While insights from qualitative studies suggest positive externalities from the arts to the knowledge economy, quantitative analyses so far offer only limited or no support for a systematic positive contribution to the (overall) innovative performance of regions. In this paper, we focus simultaneously on innovations of a technical nature (measured by patents) and of an aesthetic nature (measured by design rights). Relying on data of a large set of European regions (NUTS 2), we examine their joint impact on regional economic growth, and we analyze how different types of human capital – besides scientists and engineers, also artists – are associated with regional innovative performance. Our findings reveal that both types of innovation are relevant for explaining differences in regional growth. In addition, the analysis signals a distinctive contribution both from artists and from scientists and engineers, albeit in different activity realms. While scientists and engineers’ contribution towards regional innovation is very outspoken but confined to technological innovation, the presence of artists in the region is associated with technological and, more pronounced, with aesthetic innovation. Overall, our findings suggest the relevance of adopting a more encompassing view on innovation and creativity when assessing regional growth dynamics. |
| Keywords: | Creative class, artists, design rights, patents, regional innovation, economic growth |
| Date: | 2025–10–14 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ete:msiper:774092 |
| By: | Priya, Kumari Neha |
| Abstract: | The COVID-19 pandemic forced an abrupt transition to remote learning in K-12 education, exposing wide disparities in districts’ ability to sustain instruction. Much of the existing research highlights household-level inequities such as broadband access and parental support, but less is known about the institutional capacity of districts themselves. This study examines whether pre-pandemic administrative capacity, including digital infrastructure, budget transparency, and organizational planning, shaped districts’ ability to adapt during the crisis. Using publicly available panel data from 2018 to 2022 and a difference-in-differences (DiD) regression design, this study tests whether districts with stronger pre-2020 capacity achieved higher levels of remote learning success, measured through engagement, instructional weeks, and related outcomes. Results show that districts with higher administrative capacity prior to the pandemic delivered more resilient instruction and mitigated participation losses, particularly in lower-income contexts. These findings suggest that building institutional capacity before a crisis can reduce educational inequality and strengthen preparedness for future disruptions. |
| Date: | 2025–10–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:q9ypr_v1 |
| By: | Zsófia, Tóth; Ágoston, Szabó; Aušra, Balčiūnaitė; Inna, Sorina; Nilsson, Tørbjörn |
| Abstract: | Tourism is one of the world’s most labour-intensive sectors, generating employment across hospitality, transport, retail, and cultural industries. Yet, despite its contributions to economic growth, tourism employment is often characterized by precarity, informality, and vulnerability to external shocks. This literature review synthesizes recent scholarship (2023–2025) on the relationship between tourism and labour markets, with particular attention to the disruptions and transformations triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The review identifies three central themes: the quantity versus quality of jobs, the growing emphasis on sustainability and skills development, and persistent challenges of equity and inclusivity. Empirical studies from Europe, Asia, and beyond demonstrate that while tourism can stimulate local labour markets and generate spillover effects, employment outcomes are highly contingent upon regulatory frameworks, institutional strength, and regional economic structures. The discussion highlights tensions between flexibility and security in tourism employment, the underrepresentation of worker experiences, and the uneven geographical focus of current research. Identified gaps include the need for longitudinal and mixed-method studies, intersectional analyses of inclusivity, and investigations into the role of technology in reshaping the workforce. The paper concludes that tourism remains both a promise and a paradox for labour markets: it creates employment opportunities but also reproduces inequalities and vulnerabilities. Future research and policy must therefore focus on integrating tourism into broader labour market strategies, ensuring sustainable, inclusive, and resilient employment in the 21st century. |
| Keywords: | Tourism employment; labour markets; workforce sustainability; inclusivity; labour regulations; COVID-19 recovery; gender inequality; informality; skills development; economic resilienc |
| JEL: | J0 |
| Date: | 2025–09–15 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:126179 |
| By: | Alan de Bromhead (Department of Economics, University College Dublin); Ronan Lyons (Department of Economics, Trinity College Dublin); Johann Ohler (London School of Economics and Political Science) |
| Abstract: | Poor housing conditions, and the negative effects of Household Air Pollution (HAP) in particular, remain one of the most pressing global public health challenges. While the association between poor housing and health has a long history, evidence of a direct link is lacking. In this paper, we examine a rare example of a public housing intervention in rural areas, namely the large-scale provision of high-quality housing in Ireland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We exploit a novel dataset of deaths-by-disease and deaths-by-age-and-sex over the period 1871–1919, to test the impact of the intervention on mortality. Our difference-in difference estimates indicate that improved housing conditions reduced mortality by as much as 1 death per 1000. This effect is driven by reductions in deaths from respiratory diseases. We propose a likely mechanism that is consistent with the pattern of results we observe: a reduction in Household Air Pollution through improved housing quality and better ventilation. A cost-benefit analysis reveals that the scheme was a highly cost-effective intervention. |
| Keywords: | Ireland; Labourers Acts; household air pollution; health transition; social housing; infectious disease |
| JEL: | N33 N93 Q53 O18 I14 J10 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tcd:tcduee:tep1525 |
| By: | Maré David (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research); Richard Fabling (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research) |
| Abstract: | We estimate relative wage discrimination for ethnic and migrant groups in New Zealand, using linked employer-employee and firm-level productivity data, and comparing each group’s contribution to output with their share of their firm’s wage bill. We find that wage discrimination is relatively favourable for European migrants and Asian/MELAA employees, and relatively unfavourable for M?ori, Pacific, and NZ-born European employees, with variation across NZ-born, recent migrants, and longer-term migrants. We present pooled and firm-fixed effects estimates of discrimination, highlighting distinct within-firm and between-firm patterns. |
| Keywords: | Earnings; productivity; M?ori; ethnicity |
| JEL: | J30 J15 J71 J42 |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mtu:wpaper:25_08 |
| By: | Bacher, Etienne (Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)); Beine, Michel (University of Luxembourg); Rapoport, Hillel (Paris School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | We investigate the effect of anti-immigration attitudes on immigration plans to Europe. We propose a new instrument for attitudes toward immigration, namely, the number of country nationals killed in terrorist attacks taking place outside of Europe. Our first-stage results confirm that such terrorist attacks increase negative attitudes to immigration in the origin country of the victims. Our second-stage results then show that this higher hostility toward migrants decreases the attractiveness of the country for prospective immigrants. |
| Keywords: | anti-immigration attitudes, terrorism, immigration, Europe |
| JEL: | C1 F2 J1 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18192 |
| By: | Derek A. Christopher; Mark Duggan; Olivia H. Martin |
| Abstract: | What does homeless shelter achieve? We leverage administrative records of homeless services in Los Angeles County to construct a novel dataset of daily, site-level counts of shelter beds and occupants from 2014 to 2019. We pair this with daily, block-level crime incident data and daily, hospital-level data on ER visits to assess the relationship between shelter and area crime and health. We exploit variation from shocks to shelter availability from Los Angeles County's winter shelters program to study the effects of providing temporary shelter. We find that reducing unsheltered homelessness significantly reduces crime and ER visits for psychiatric conditions. We conclude with evidence that entering shelter also reduces short-run mortality but find no evidence that temporary shelter reduces future homelessness more than street outreach or other non-shelter services. Our findings suggest that shelter functions as a public good with high social benefits. When agents charged with provision of homeless services are evaluated on their ability to reduce overall homelessness, they are unlikely to internalize these benefits and may under provide shelter. |
| JEL: | H41 H51 H53 H75 I38 K42 R28 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34376 |
| By: | Diego De la Fuente Stevens (University of Sussex) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the long-term and intergenerational impacts of Mexico’s 1993 reform extending compulsory schooling from six to nine years. Exploiting the age-based discontinuity in exposure, the study implements a regression discontinuity and instrumental-variable strategy to estimate the causal effect of education. The reform increased schooling on average, with disproportionately large gains among Indigenous and rural populations. These educational improvements translated into lasting shifts in fertility, child mortality, employment, and internal migration. Intergenerationally, parental schooling gains raised secondary and upper-secondary enrolment among children. By following a single reform across demographic, labour-market, and intergenerational domains, the paper provides a life-course perspective on how expanded schooling reshapes life trajectories. The results highlight the role of compulsory schooling in reducing structural inequalities and demonstrate that, in the context of a large middle-income country, such reforms can generate sustained and intergenerational benefits beyond immediate educational attainment. |
| Keywords: | Education policy, Compulsory schooling, Educational attainment, Intergenerational mobility, Fertility, Labour Markets, Migration |
| JEL: | I25 I26 J24 J62 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sus:susewp:0525 |
| By: | Capretti, Lisa (University of Rome Tor Vergata); Kopinska, Joanna (Sapienza University of Rome); Mariani, Rama Dasi (Roma Tre University); Rosati, Furio C. (University of Rome Tor Vergata) |
| Abstract: | We examine the impact of migrant-provided home-based care on elderly health in Italy, focusing on hospitalisation frequency, length of stay, and mortality. To address potential endogeneity between local health conditions and immigrant settlement , we use an instrumental variable approach. Our results show that an higer supply of migrant caregivers reduces both the frequency (extensive margin) and duration (intensive margin) of hospital admissions. One percentage point increase in the immigrant-to-elderly population ratio leads to a 4% decline in long-term and rehabilitation inpatient admissions, with no effect on acute inpatient. We also find a 1.5% reduction in average admission duration, rising to 3.3% for LRI cases. These effects are primarily driven by diagnoses related to traumatic injuries, musculoskeletal and genitourinary conditions—areas closely linked to home-based mobility and care management. Back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest that the observed 1.3 percentage point average annual increase in the migrant-to-elderly ratio during our study period corresponds to an estimated 9% reduction in elderly LRI hospitalisation costs, yielding annual public savings of approximately 0.66% of total hospitalisation expenditures. |
| Keywords: | long-term care, immigration, home-based care, ederly |
| JEL: | F22 H51 I11 I18 J14 J61 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18188 |
| By: | Stephan Heblich; Marlon Seror; Hao Xu; Yanos Zylberberg |
| Abstract: | We study the impact of large, successful manufacturing plants on other local producers in China, focusing on “Million-Rouble Plants†built in the 1950s during a brief alliance with the U.S.S.R. The ephemeral geopolitical situation and the locations of allied and enemy airbases provide exogenous variation in plant siting. We find a boom-and-bust pattern: Counties hosting these plants were 80% more productive than control counties in 1982 but 20% less productive by 2010. This decline reflects the performance of local establishments, which exhibit low productivity, limited innovation, and high markup. Specialization hindered spillovers, preventing the emergence of new clusters and local entrepreneurship. |
| Date: | 2025–04–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bri:uobdis:25/792 |
| By: | Chaurey, Ritam (Johns Hopkins SAIS); Nayyar, Guarav (The World Bank); Sharma, Siddharth (The World Bank); Verhoogen, Eric (Columbia University) |
| Abstract: | Knowledge spillovers among firms are widely viewed as a key driver of agglomeration and growth, but are difficult to estimate cleanly. We randomly allocated an energy-efficient motor – a “servo'” motor – among leather-goods firms in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and tracked adoption, information flows, beliefs about energy savings, and other variables. We use the difference between actual exposure and expected exposure (from simulated randomization draws) to identify the effect of exposure. We find a robust positive effect of exposure to treated neighbors within a small geographic area (500 meters in our baseline specification) on information flows and adoption. A marginal value of public funds (MVPF) calculation taking learning spillovers into account yields a significantly larger value than one considering only treated firms and suggests that adoption subsidies would be a cost-effective policy intervention. |
| Keywords: | knowledge spillovers, social learning, technology adoption, energy efficiency |
| JEL: | O14 R11 L67 L23 O12 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18183 |
| By: | Carter McCormack; Timothy Sheridan |
| Abstract: | This spotlight article presents recent findings on inheritances from the 2023 Survey of Financial Security. It highlights the level of familial support many young homeowners have received when entering the housing market. |
| Keywords: | data integration, program evaluation, program data |
| JEL: | J23 M21 |
| Date: | 2025–03–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp8e:202500300001e |
| By: | Maciej Karpinski; Amélie Arsenault; Christoph Schimmele; Max Stick |
| Abstract: | This study used the 2020 General Social Survey to examine the association between immigrants’ age at arrival in Canada and their social connectedness to their communities of settlement. Immigrants who arrived during adolescence had fewer close friends than Canadians in the third generation or more, but this disparity was not observed for immigrants who arrived during childhood and there was no significant difference for those who arrived during adulthood, after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. The number of acquaintances immigrants had decreased with older age at arrival, and those who arrived during adulthood had significantly fewer acquaintances than Canadians in the third generation or more. The proportion of interethnic friendships in immigrants’ social networks was consistently higher compared with Canadians in the third generation or more. Immigrants who arrived during adolescence or adulthood had less in-person contact with their friends than people from the third generation or more but were not less satisfied with their level of contact. |
| Keywords: | age at arrival; immigrants; social integration; social networks |
| JEL: | J23 M21 |
| Date: | 2024–12–19 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp8e:202401200002e |
| By: | Altireeki, Waed Fathi (Norwegian Refugee Council) |
| Abstract: | This study investigates how INGO-led NFE programmes for children and youth on the move seek to empower learners amid the complexities of mixed migration. It takes Libya as a case study, given its position as a central route to the Mediterranean and its high influx of refugees and migrants. The study proposes an integrated conceptual lens—combining the 4As rights-based framework, the capability approach, and critical pedagogy—to examine the empowering dimensions within INGO practices. Based on qualitative interviews with 12 staff from five INGOs, findings reaffirm critiques of Education in Emergencies’ short-term approach, highlighting its emphasis on provision over impact. Education’s empowering potential is found to be constrained by the absence of progressive learning pathways and the limited efforts to enhance learners’ agency. |
| Date: | 2025–10–17 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:c8bzp_v1 |
| By: | Andre Groeger; Yanos Zylberberg |
| Abstract: | This paper studies how social networks (might fail to) shape agricultural practices. We exploit (i) a unique census of agricultural production nested within delineated land parcels and (ii) social network data within four repopulated villages of rural Vietnam. In a first step, we extract exogenous variation in network formation from home locations within the few streets that compose each village (populated through staggered population resettlement), and we estimate the return to social links in the adoption of highly-productive crops. We find a large network multiplier, in apparent contradiction with low adoption rates. In a second step, we study the structure of network formation to explain this puzzle: social networks display large homophily, and valuable links between heterogeneous households are rare. Due to the clustered nature of networks and the dynamic, endogenous propagation of agricultural practices, there are decreasing returns to social links, and policies targeting “inbetweeners†are most able to mitigate this issue. |
| Date: | 2025–04–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bri:uobdis:25/794 |
| By: | Lemos, Sara (University of Leicester); Portes, Jonathan (King's College London) |
| Abstract: | We study the labour market impact of immigration to the United Kingdom, focusing on the large inflows following the 2004 EU enlargement. Using the Lifetime Labour Market Database (LLMDB)—a longitudinal 1% sample of National Insurance records—we provide the first analysis of immigration’s effects on employment and wages based on high-quality administrative microdata. Exploiting individual, area and time fixed effects, as well as area-time, individual-time and individual-area fixed effects, we reduce endogeneity concerns that have limited previous work. We find limited aggregate impacts, but distributional consequences: existing immigrants—particularly those who were young or low paid—experienced modest negative employment effects, while natives faced little evidence of displacement. For wages, impacts were mixed: existing immigrants overall gained, but low-paid immigrants lost. The results suggest labour market adjustment operated through both substitution and complementarities across groups. More broadly, we provide a methodological framework for analysing the much larger and more diverse post-2021 immigration flows. |
| Keywords: | wages, employment, immigration, Central and Eastern Europe, UK |
| JEL: | J22 C23 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18199 |
| By: | Cyril Verluise (QuantumBlack); Gabriele Cristelli (London School of Economics); Kyle Higham (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research); Gaetan de Rassenfosse (Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne) |
| Abstract: | This study introduces in-text patent-to-patent citations—references embedded in the body of patent documents—as a novel data source to trace knowledge flows. Unlike front-page citations, which often reflect legal requirements, in-text citations are more likely to originate from inventors and signal meaningful technological linkages. We show that they exhibit stronger geographic and semantic proximity, greater self-referentiality, and closer alignment with inventor knowledge. Though less frequent than front-page citations, they yield robust results in models of knowledge diffusion. We release a validated dataset and reproducible code to support future research. Our findings offer new opportunities for strategy scholars interested in the microfoundations of innovation, the geography of knowledge flows, and the role of inventors in shaping firms’ knowledge trajectories. |
| Keywords: | citation; patent; knowledge flow; open data; spillover |
| JEL: | O31 O33 R12 C81 D83 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iip:wpaper:30 |
| By: | Carla Guerriero (Università di Napoli Federico II and CSEF); Rosella Levaggi (Università di Brescia); Paolo Li Donni (University of Palermo); Sara Moccia (University of Naples Federico II.) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the effect of broadband internet diffusion on patient mobility in Italy’s decentralized healthcare systems. Using comprehensive provincial-level data from2013 to 2019 on broadband coverage and hospital-based oncological procedures, we consider how improved internet access affects patients’ decisions to seek treatment outside their region or province of residence. We find that increased broadband availability significantly reduces patient mobility for cancer care, particularly for complex conditions with lower survival rates such pancreatic and lung cancer. The effect is more pronounced among younger patients and those residing in the South of Italy, where perceptions of local care quality are poorer. By contrast, the impact is weaker among older patients and individuals traveling from Central Italy. Our findings suggest that enhanced digital connectivity lowers information frictions, enabling patients to better evaluate local healthcare options and thereby avoiding some unnecessary cross-regional mobility. This paper contributes to two strands of the literature: on the role of information in healthcare markets and on the broader effects of internet infrastructure on health-related decision-making. Our results underscore the role of policies for digital inclusion in mitigating regional healthcare disparities and improving patient decision-making. |
| Date: | 2025–10–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sef:csefwp:762 |
| By: | Gabriella Conti (Institute for Fiscal Studies); Paola Biasi (National Institute of Social Security); De Paola Maria (National Institute of Social Security) |
| Date: | 2025–10–13 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ifs:ifsewp:25/44 |
| By: | Blossey, Nils; Haffert, Lukas; Stoetzer, Lukas |
| Abstract: | Historical industrial centers have shifted to the right but have done so at different speeds and intensities. We argue that this variation can be explained by differences in the historical industrialization process. Communities that industrialized later and more intensively realign more toward the radical right today. This is because the built environment shaped by the original industrialization drives demographic persistence and neighborhood disadvantage. To examine our argument, we study the effects of nineteenth-century coal mining in Germany's Ruhr area. We match the geolocation of over 1, 000 mining shafts, historical plant-level employment data, and the spread of company housing with contemporary electoral results at the neighborhood level. For identification, we exploit the depth of coal deposits that governed the adoption of deep-shaft mining. The findings demonstrate how the path of economic development influences voting in the long run. |
| Date: | 2025–10–16 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:tswm7_v1 |
| By: | Kulshreshtha, Shobhit (Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management) |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tiu:tiutis:85ec059f-2ac4-4721-87ef-59a4ecd338ea |
| By: | Badalyan, Sona (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany ; CERGE-EI) |
| Abstract: | "This paper exploits a unique norm-shifting setting - a German pension reform that equalized retirement ages across genders - to examine how old-age employment propagates through workplace networks. The reform raised women’s earliest claiming age from 60 to 63 for cohorts born in 1952 onward. Using the universe of workgroups from social security records, I compare women whose peers were just above or below the reform cutoff. I find that women are more likely to remain employed at older ages when their peers do, with stronger effects in the regions of former West Germany, with its traditional gender norms. Gender-neutral pension reforms thus amplify their impact through peer influence, fostering regional convergence in late-career employment patterns." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en)) |
| Keywords: | IAB-Open-Access-Publikation |
| JEL: | D85 H55 J14 J16 J22 J26 Z13 |
| Date: | 2025–10–13 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iab:iabdpa:202513 |
| By: | Ruixue Jia; Gaurav Khanna; Hongbin Li; Yuli Xu |
| Abstract: | China’s unprecedented expansion of higher education in 1999, increased annual college enrollment from 1 million to 9.6 million by 2020. We trace the global ripple effects of that expansion by examining its impact on US graduate education and local economies surrounding college towns. Combining administrative data from China’s college admissions system and US visa data, we leverage the centralized quota system governing Chinese college admissions for identification and present three key findings. First, the expansion of Chinese undergraduate education drove graduate student flows to the US: every additional 100 college graduates in China led to 3.6 Chinese graduate students in the US. Second, Chinese master’s students generated positive spillovers, driving the birth of new master’s programs, and increasing the number of other international and American master’s students, particularly in STEM fields. And third, the influx of international students supported local economies around college towns, raising job creation rates outside the universities, as well. Our findings highlight how domestic education policy in one country can reshape the academic and economic landscape of another through student migration and its broader spillovers. |
| JEL: | F22 I23 J23 J24 J61 O15 O38 |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34391 |
| By: | Mark Brown; Matthew Brown; Jiang Li; Jesse Tweedle |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the importance of urban and rural regional economies in Canada. Taking advantage of newly developed experimental measures of gross domestic product and gross domestic income at the scale of 1 kilometre by 1 kilometre grid squares, it provides a picture of the importance of urban and rural economies in 2019. It shows that 23.1% of Canada’s output is produced in rural areas, where 19.5% of employee compensation is received, with the remainder located in urbanized areas. It also shows that 60.6% of rural production occurs in areas that are relatively close to major markets, such as southern Ontario, central Alberta between Calgary and Edmonton, and the lower mainland of British Columbia. |
| Keywords: | gross domestic product, gross domestic income, rural economies, urban economies |
| JEL: | J23 M21 |
| Date: | 2025–04–23 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp8e:202500400003e |
| By: | Tatsuru Kikuchi |
| Abstract: | I develop a continuous functional framework for spatial treatment effects grounded in Navier-Stokes partial differential equations. Rather than discrete treatment parameters, the framework characterizes treatment intensity as continuous functions $\tau(\mathbf{x}, t)$ over space-time, enabling rigorous analysis of boundary evolution, spatial gradients, and cumulative exposure. Empirical validation using 32, 520 U.S. ZIP codes demonstrates exponential spatial decay for healthcare access ($\kappa = 0.002837$ per km, $R^2 = 0.0129$) with detectable boundaries at 37.1 km. The framework successfully diagnoses when scope conditions hold: positive decay parameters validate diffusion assumptions near hospitals, while negative parameters correctly signal urban confounding effects. Heterogeneity analysis reveals 2-13 $\times$ stronger distance effects for elderly populations and substantial education gradients. Model selection strongly favors logarithmic decay over exponential ($\Delta \text{AIC} > 10, 000$), representing a middle ground between exponential and power-law decay. Applications span environmental economics, banking, and healthcare policy. The continuous functional framework provides predictive capability ($d^*(t) = \xi^* \sqrt{t}$), parameter sensitivity ($\partial d^*/\partial \nu$), and diagnostic tests unavailable in traditional difference-in-differences approaches. |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2510.15324 |
| By: | Michael Fritsch (Friedrich Schiller University Jena); Maria Greve (University of Utrecht); Michael Wyrwich (University of Groningen) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines how the legacy of socialist regime in countries of Central and Eastern Europe has affected innovation and R&D cooperation and compares this to Western Europe. Our analysis reveals that the negative impact of socialism on innovation Central and Eastern European countries is mediated by interpersonal trust and the quality of government. These findings highlight the significance of historical context for innovation activity. Our insights are particularly relevant for policymakers who are trying to create effective strategies to encourage technological development in post-socialist regions. |
| Keywords: | Innovation, socialist legacy, institutional quality, trust |
| JEL: | O31 O43 P20 R11 |
| Date: | 2025–10–16 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2025-0010 |
| By: | Claudia Cerrone; Francesco Feri; Anita Gantner; Paolo Pin |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates whether the decoy effect - specifically the attraction effect - can foster cooperation in social networks. In a lab experiment, we show that introducing a dominated option increases the selection of the target choice, especially in early decisions. The effect is stronger in individual settings but persists in networks despite free-riding incentives, with variation depending on the decision-maker's strategic position. |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2509.13887 |
| By: | Yanli Lin (Economics Programme, University of Western Australia); Yichun Song (Center for Industrial and Business Organization and Institute for Advanced Economic Research, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics) |
| Abstract: | This paper develops a new, instrument-free semi-parametric copula framework for a spatial autoregressive (SAR) model to address endogeneity stemming from an endogenous spatial weights matrix, endogenous regressors, or both. Moving beyond conventional Gaussian copulas, we develop a flexible estimator based on the Student’s t copula with an unknown degrees-of-freedom (df) parameter, which nests the Gaussian case and allows the data to reveal the presence of tail dependence. We propose a sieve maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) that jointly estimates all structural, copula, and non-parametric marginal parameters, and establish that this joint estimator is consistent, asymptotically normal, and – unlike prevailing multi-stage copula-correction methods – semiparametrically efficient. Monte Carlo simulations underscore the flexibility of our approach, showing that copula misspecification inflates bias and variance, whereas joint estimation improves efficiency. In an empirical application to regional productivity spillovers, we find evidence of tail dependence and demonstrate that our method offers a credible alternative to approaches that rely on hard-to-verify excluded instruments |
| Keywords: | Spatial autoregressive model, Endogenous spatial weights matrix, Endogenous regressors, Copula method, Sieve maximum likelihood estimation |
| JEL: | C31 C51 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uwa:wpaper:25-07 |
| By: | Huju Liu; Chaohui Lu; Haozhen Zhang; Jianwei Zhong |
| Abstract: | Canada has one of the highest shares of immigrants among developed countries. According to the 2021 Census, immigrants made up nearly one-quarter (23.0%) of the population—the largest proportion among G7 nations—and this figure is expected to rise to almost 32% by 2041 (Statistics Canada, 2022). Immigrants also tend to have higher business ownership rates compared with those born in Canada (Green et al., 2016). Therefore, understanding the impact of immigrant-owned businesses on the Canadian economy is essential. |
| Keywords: | Immigrant-owned firms, Canada, immigrant ownership, firm characteristics |
| JEL: | J23 M21 |
| Date: | 2025–02–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp8e:202500200002e |
| By: | Arthur Charpentier |
| Abstract: | The usual definitions of algorithmic fairness focus on population-level statistics, such as demographic parity or equal opportunity. However, in many social or economic contexts, fairness is not perceived globally, but locally, through an individual's peer network and comparisons. We propose a theoretical model of perceived fairness networks, in which each individual's sense of discrimination depends on the local topology of interactions. We show that even if a decision rule satisfies standard criteria of fairness, perceived discrimination can persist or even increase in the presence of homophily or assortative mixing. We propose a formalism for the concept of fairness perception, linking network structure, local observation, and social perception. Analytical and simulation results highlight how network topology affects the divergence between objective fairness and perceived fairness, with implications for algorithmic governance and applications in finance and collaborative insurance. |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2510.12028 |
| By: | Ana Abrunhosa; António Galvão; Sofia Terlica |
| Abstract: | Decentralisation in Portugal, driven by Framework Law No. 50/2018, represents an ambitious step in the transfer of powers from central government to local authorities. Overall, this process can optimise resource allocation and promote more efficient public management. However, the specialist literature emphasises that the success of decentralisation depends on robust financing models and sound governance. In this article, we analyse the evolution of decentralisation in the areas of education, health and social action in Portugal and the financing model, with particular attention to the Decentralisation Financing Fund (DFF). Based on this analysis, we propose a new financing model based on five variables that are crucial to the success of decentralisation. We conclude that, for decentralisation to be efficient and promote greater territorial cohesion, the financing model in Portugal must be based on the distribution of tax revenues at the central government level, complemented by a distribution among municipalities based on municipal tax revenues. |
| JEL: | H77 H71 H72 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ptu:wpaper:o202502 |
| By: | Emanuel Kohlscheen |
| Abstract: | This article identifies the factors that drove house prices in 13 advanced countries over the past 35 years. It does so based on Breiman s (2001) random forest model. Shapley values indicate that annual house price growth across countries is explained first and foremost by price momentum, initial valuations (proxied by price to rent ratios) and household credit growth. Partial effects of explanatory variables are also elicited and suggest important non-linearities, for instance as to what concerns the effects of CPI inflation on house price growth. The out-of-sample forecast test reveals that the random forest model delivers 44% lower house price variation RMSEs and 45% lower MAEs when compared to an OLS model that uses the same set of 10 pre-determined explanatory variables. Notably, the same model works well for all countries, as the random forest attributes minimal values to country fixed effects. |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2509.21460 |
| By: | Pooja Batra; Ajay Sharma |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we analyse the impact of international migration on the food consumption and dietary diversity of left-behind households. Using the Kerala migration survey 2011, we study whether households with emigrants (on account of international migration) have higher consumption expenditure and improved dietary diversity than their non-migrating counterparts. We use ordinary least square and instrumental variable approach to answer this question. The key findings are that: a) emigrant households have higher overall consumption expenditure as well as higher expenditure on food; b) we find that international migration leads to increase in the dietary diversity of left behind households. Further, we explore the effect on food sub-group expenditure for both rural and urban households. We find that emigrant households spend more on protein (milk, pulses and egg, fish and meat), at the same time there is higher spending on non-healthy food habits (processed and ready to eat food items) among them. |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2510.15399 |
| By: | Guy Gellatly; Helen Foran; Lauren Pinault |
| Abstract: | The prevalence of Canadians who report high levels of life satisfaction has trended lower since inflationary pressures began to build in 2021. In early 2024, 48.6% of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported that they were highly satisfied with their lives, a decline of more than 5 percentage points from three years earlier. The gradual deterioration in life satisfaction has been unevenly felt, with more sizable reductions among young adults, racialized Canadians and those living in larger urban centres.Note Cumulative declines among younger Canadians over the past three years, which occurred against a backdrop of deteriorating housing affordability and large increases in rental prices, have totalled about 11 percentage points, with about one in three reporting high levels of life satisfaction by early 2024. |
| Keywords: | life satisfaction, Canada, young families |
| JEL: | J23 M21 |
| Date: | 2024–12–19 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp8e:202401200001e |
| By: | Guy Gellatly |
| Abstract: | Obtaining a postsecondary education is an important factor in long-term labour market success (Frenette 2019) and a key mechanism for achieving intergenerational income mobility (Simard-Duplain and St-Denis 2020). Previous research ending in 2014 documented substantial gaps in postsecondary enrolment rates between higher- and lower-income youth (Frenette 2017). Although older research largely found non-financial factors to be direct influencers of these gaps (e.g., parental background, such as education levels and expectations for their children, as well as academic factors such as high school grades and standardized test scores), some students reported financial constraints as the primary reason for not enrolling in postsecondary education (Frenette 2007). Moreover, there is a robust system of student financial assistance (grants, loans and savings incentives) in Canada that is designed to help students in need pay for their postsecondary education. Therefore, continuing to track postsecondary enrolment trends by parental income is informative for policy development. The purpose of this short article is to update the results of Frenette (2017) with more recent data from 2001 to 2022. |
| Keywords: | Postsecondary education, education, labour market, income |
| JEL: | J23 M21 |
| Date: | 2025–04–23 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp8e:202500400002e |
| By: | Ramon Caminal (Institute of Economic Analysis, CSIC, and BSE); Antonio Di Paolo (AQR-IREA, University of Barcelona); Ada Ferrer-i-Carbonell (Institute of Economic Analysis, CSIC, and BSE) |
| Abstract: | We present new evidence on the impact of a reform that introduced Catalan-Spanish bilingual education in Catalonia on identity formation. Specifically, we revisit the findings of Clots-Figueras and Masella (2013, The Economic Journal) by examining how exposure to Catalan as medium of instruction affects identity and political preferences. To do so, we use more recent data from repeated cross-sections and multiple alternative sources. Furthermore, we explore an overlooked dimension of identity: self-identification language. At the aggregate level, we find a small but negative effect of bilingual education on the likelihood of identifying as exclusively Catalan. Our results are robust to a battery of sensitivity checks and falsification tests. However, they differ significantly from those of Clots-Figueras and Masella. Our replication of their results reveals a lack of robustness, primarily due to their definitions of identity, as well as to other aspects of their model specification. Our analysis of heterogeneous effects shows that the small negative impact of the reform on identifying as “only Catalan” is entirely driven by individuals from non-Catalan backgrounds, whether in terms of native language or parental origins. For this group, exposure to bilingual education also reduces the likelihood of adopting Catalan as the language of self-identification and support for the independence of Catalonia. These findings suggest that the language-in-education reform might have triggered a backlash effect. |
| Keywords: | language-in-education reform, bilingual education, identity, language, political preferences. JEL classification: I28, J15, Z13 |
| Date: | 2025–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aqr:wpaper:202504 |
| By: | Boris Ginzburg |
| Abstract: | This paper models voters who invest effort to determine whether a particular claim relevant to their voting choices is correct. If a voter succeeds in determining whether the claim is correct, this information is shared via a social network. I show that increased connectivity makes voters more informed about basic facts, but less informed about complicated issues. At the same time, polarization makes voters less informed overall. |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2509.15454 |