Publications
Examining Key Impacts of the Test-Optional Movement for Early Adopters (AEA Papers and Proceedings)
By 2019, around 250 postsecondary institutions adopted a test-optional policy. This paper uses a difference-in-differences design to examine the impact of this reform on schools that switched policies between 2006 and 2014. I find that adopting a test-optional policy increased the share of Black, Native American and Hispanic students as well as Pell Grant recipients. I also show that adopting a test-optional policy did not affect the academic performance of enrolled cohorts but did affect financial aid disbursements. These findings are important considering that several institutions that switched policies during the COVID-19 pandemic have since returned to requiring test scores.
Examining Key Impacts of the Test-Optional Movement for Early Adopters (AEA Papers and Proceedings)
By 2019, around 250 postsecondary institutions adopted a test-optional policy. This paper uses a difference-in-differences design to examine the impact of this reform on schools that switched policies between 2006 and 2014. I find that adopting a test-optional policy increased the share of Black, Native American and Hispanic students as well as Pell Grant recipients. I also show that adopting a test-optional policy did not affect the academic performance of enrolled cohorts but did affect financial aid disbursements. These findings are important considering that several institutions that switched policies during the COVID-19 pandemic have since returned to requiring test scores.
Media Coverage: The GW Hatchett
Labor Market Shocks and Immigration Enforcement w/Sergio Barrera and Sarina Heron (AEA Papers and Proceedings)
We study the effects of labor market shocks on immigration enforcement by evaluating the impact of the Great Recession on the likelihood that commuting zones partner with immigration authorities through 287(g) agreements and early adoption of Secure Communities and become subject to E-Verify mandates. Using a difference in differences framework we find that a one percentage point increase in the Great Recession driven unemployment rate is associated with a one percentage point increase in the likelihood of signing a 287(g) agreement, early adoption of Secure Communities, and a two to three-percentage point increase in the likelihood of adopting E-Verify.
We study the effects of labor market shocks on immigration enforcement by evaluating the impact of the Great Recession on the likelihood that commuting zones partner with immigration authorities through 287(g) agreements and early adoption of Secure Communities and become subject to E-Verify mandates. Using a difference in differences framework we find that a one percentage point increase in the Great Recession driven unemployment rate is associated with a one percentage point increase in the likelihood of signing a 287(g) agreement, early adoption of Secure Communities, and a two to three-percentage point increase in the likelihood of adopting E-Verify.
The Impacts of Removing College Entrance Exams: Evidence from the Test-Optional Movement (Southern Economic Journal)
As of 2019, about 250 four-year colleges and universities had adopted a test-optional application procedure that allowed students to apply for admission without submitting an SAT or ACT score. Many schools adopted this procedure to encourage greater racial and socioeconomic diversity among admitted students. Unfortunately, we know little about the impact of test-optional policies. In this paper, I use a difference-in-differences design to examine the impact of this reform on schools that adopted the policies between 2006 and 2014. Compared to schools that did not switch, test-optional schools witnessed around a 15 percent increase in the number of Black, Native American/Alaskan Native, and Hispanic enrollments and around a 7 percent increase in the number of Pell Grant students. I also show that test-optional policies affect financial aid disbursements. After switching, schools experienced an increase in the number of students receiving institutional grant aid, but decreases in the average aid granted. Schools offset the decrease in grant aid by increasing the availability of institutional loans. Institutions interested in adopting these policies should consider these possible unintended consequences.
As of 2019, about 250 four-year colleges and universities had adopted a test-optional application procedure that allowed students to apply for admission without submitting an SAT or ACT score. Many schools adopted this procedure to encourage greater racial and socioeconomic diversity among admitted students. Unfortunately, we know little about the impact of test-optional policies. In this paper, I use a difference-in-differences design to examine the impact of this reform on schools that adopted the policies between 2006 and 2014. Compared to schools that did not switch, test-optional schools witnessed around a 15 percent increase in the number of Black, Native American/Alaskan Native, and Hispanic enrollments and around a 7 percent increase in the number of Pell Grant students. I also show that test-optional policies affect financial aid disbursements. After switching, schools experienced an increase in the number of students receiving institutional grant aid, but decreases in the average aid granted. Schools offset the decrease in grant aid by increasing the availability of institutional loans. Institutions interested in adopting these policies should consider these possible unintended consequences.
Working Papers (sorted alphabetically)
Can Light-Touch Interventions in High School Impact Education Outcomes? (Under Review)
In response to growing concerns over the academic preparation of college-going students, policy makers have suggested an expansion in dual credit classes. However, there are concerns over whether differential expectations may exacerbate existing inequities in participation. This paper examines whether switching the default of advanced coursework enrollment encourages high school students to take dual-credit courses by evaluating the Academic Acceleration Program (AAP). I estimate the impact of qualifying for AAP using a regression discontinuity design to evaluate subsequent education outcomes. I find that students just qualifying for AAP based on their English Language Arts (ELA) test scores increase their likelihood of taking a relevant dual-credit course by 8 percentage points. However, I find limited evidence that qualification for AAP significantly alters education outcomes. As policymakers continue to discuss the expansion of these programs, it’s important to understand whether and for which groups of students these classes are beneficial.
Can Light-Touch Interventions in High School Impact Education Outcomes? (Under Review)
In response to growing concerns over the academic preparation of college-going students, policy makers have suggested an expansion in dual credit classes. However, there are concerns over whether differential expectations may exacerbate existing inequities in participation. This paper examines whether switching the default of advanced coursework enrollment encourages high school students to take dual-credit courses by evaluating the Academic Acceleration Program (AAP). I estimate the impact of qualifying for AAP using a regression discontinuity design to evaluate subsequent education outcomes. I find that students just qualifying for AAP based on their English Language Arts (ELA) test scores increase their likelihood of taking a relevant dual-credit course by 8 percentage points. However, I find limited evidence that qualification for AAP significantly alters education outcomes. As policymakers continue to discuss the expansion of these programs, it’s important to understand whether and for which groups of students these classes are beneficial.
Economic Insecurity and Demand for Immigration Enforcement w/Sergio Barrera and Joaquín Rubalcaba (Under Review)
Does labor market scarcity increase local demand for immigration enforcement? We address this question by examining how the Great Recession affected the adoption of 287(g) partnerships that deputize local law enforcement to act as immigration agents. Using a difference-in-differences design, we find that commuting zones experiencing higher unemployment increases between 2007-2009 were more likely to adopt these partnerships. The effects are concentrated in areas with above median pre-Recession immigrant populations, construction industry employment, and foreign-born workers in routine manual occupations. Our results support the hypothesis that adverse labor market shocks increase support for policies restricting immigrants’ ability to compete in local labor markets.
Does labor market scarcity increase local demand for immigration enforcement? We address this question by examining how the Great Recession affected the adoption of 287(g) partnerships that deputize local law enforcement to act as immigration agents. Using a difference-in-differences design, we find that commuting zones experiencing higher unemployment increases between 2007-2009 were more likely to adopt these partnerships. The effects are concentrated in areas with above median pre-Recession immigrant populations, construction industry employment, and foreign-born workers in routine manual occupations. Our results support the hypothesis that adverse labor market shocks increase support for policies restricting immigrants’ ability to compete in local labor markets.
From the Ground Up: Labor Demand and Intergenerational Mobility in the US w/Paul Shaloka (Under Review)
We provide evidence on the impact of local labor market shocks on intergenerational mobility measures for communities across the United States. We show that the fracking boom and Chinese import competition led to substantial changes in upward social mobility, and that between 10-15 percent of the spatial variation in absolute upward mobility can be explained by these two geographically concentrated shocks alone. Our results demonstrate that (1) an industry-specific shock can explain a comparable share of the variation in mobility as individual social factors and (2) different measures of mobility respond differently to labor demand shocks.
We provide evidence on the impact of local labor market shocks on intergenerational mobility measures for communities across the United States. We show that the fracking boom and Chinese import competition led to substantial changes in upward social mobility, and that between 10-15 percent of the spatial variation in absolute upward mobility can be explained by these two geographically concentrated shocks alone. Our results demonstrate that (1) an industry-specific shock can explain a comparable share of the variation in mobility as individual social factors and (2) different measures of mobility respond differently to labor demand shocks.
Supply-Side Responses in School Choice w/Chandon Adger (R&R at Journal of Public Economics)
This paper examines the competitive effects of the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program on public and participating private schools. Using a difference-in-differences design, we find that high exposure public schools witnessed increases in quality, driven by improvements in math. Initially poor performing public schools drive our results, suggesting that the public school quality gap shrank because of the program. Average quality at participating private schools fell following the program’s adoption. We also present suggestive evidence that high exposure participating private schools saw larger declines in quality. Policymakers should consider these indirect effects to understand vouchers' total impact on educational outcomes.
This paper examines the competitive effects of the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program on public and participating private schools. Using a difference-in-differences design, we find that high exposure public schools witnessed increases in quality, driven by improvements in math. Initially poor performing public schools drive our results, suggesting that the public school quality gap shrank because of the program. Average quality at participating private schools fell following the program’s adoption. We also present suggestive evidence that high exposure participating private schools saw larger declines in quality. Policymakers should consider these indirect effects to understand vouchers' total impact on educational outcomes.
Research In Progress (sorted alphabetically)
- Evaluating the Impact of Voucher Programs on Incumbent Students in Participating Private Schools (with Joseph Waddington)
- The Free Tuition Laws and Their Impact on Education Attainment in the 20th Century (with Christopher Monjaras)
- The Non-Labor Impacts of GED Receipt (with Antionette Strotter)
- The War on Poverty and Higher Education Access: Educational Attainment and Intergenerational Effects of Upward Bound (with Chloe Gibbs and Esra Kose)
- Understanding the Impacts of First Semester Math Placement on Postsecondary Outcomes (with Sergio Barrera and Susan Sajadi)