Prospering through Prospera: A Dynamic Model of CCT Impacts on Educational Attainment and Achievement in Mexico by Weilong Zhang

Join us for the latest Applied Economics Research Seminar Series event, Autumn Term 2022.

Weilong Zhang from the University of Cambridge will present this seminar on Prospering through Prospera: A Dynamic Model of CCT Impacts on Educational Attainment and Achievement in Mexico 

Abstract

This paper develops and estimates a dynamic model, which integrates value-added and school-choice models, to evaluate grade-by-grade and the cumulative impacts of the Mexican Prospera conditional cash transfer (CCT) program on educational achievement. The empirical application advances the previous literature by estimating policy impacts on learning, accounting for dynamic selective school attendance and incorporating both observed and unobserved heterogeneities. A dynamic framework is critical for estimating cumulative learning effects because lagged achievement is an important determinant of current achievement. The model is estimated using rich nationwide Mexican administrative data on schooling progression and math and Spanish test scores in grades 4-9 along with student and family survey data. The estimates show significant CCT learning impacts, inter alia, particularly for students from poorer households. School-choice decisions, especially whether to attend telesecondary schools, play crucial roles.

The seminar will begin with a presentation and will end with a Q and A session.

It will be held in the Economics Common Room at 2pm on Thursday 8th December. This event is open to all levels of study and is also open to the public. To register your place and gain access to the webinar, please contact the seminar organisers.

This event is part of the Applied Economics Research Seminar Series.