Krzysztof Karbownik, Emory University

"Effects of school quality on health and fertility"

Abstract

Using administrative data from South Carolina and a regression discontinuity design, we present novel evidence on the effects of school quality on health, fertility, and mortality in early adulthood as well as health of the next generation. Students that attended improving schools have lower likelihood of hospitalization (16%), ED visit (5.0%), dying (25%) and having children (9.8%) at ages 18 to 28. For those with children, we do not find differential gains in birth outcomes of the next generation. Candidate mechanisms include improved cognitive ability, non-cognitive skills, school satisfaction, short-run health and reductions in risky behaviors while we can rule out meaningful changes in extensive margin of education, employment, income, and welfare utilization.

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Contact person: Casper Worm Hansen