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  3. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
  4. July 2022
  5. Neighbors' Effects on University Enrollment

Neighbors' Effects on University Enrollment

  • Andrés Barrios-Fernández
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
vol. 14, no. 3, July 2022
(pp. 30-60)
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Abstract

This paper combines detailed geographic information and individual educational records in Chile to provide causal evidence that close neighbors significantly influence enrollment in university. I exploit the quasi-random variation generated by student loans eligibility rules and find that potential applicants are significantly more likely to attend and complete university when their closest neighbor—defined as the closest individual applying to university one year before—becomes eligible for a student loan and enrolls in university. These results highlight the importance of social influences on university enrollment and suggest that financial aid and university access policies may have important spillover effects.

Citation

Barrios-Fernández, Andrés. 2022. "Neighbors' Effects on University Enrollment." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 14 (3): 30-60. DOI: 10.1257/app.20200360

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • I22 Educational Finance; Financial Aid
  • I23 Higher Education; Research Institutions
  • I28 Education: Government Policy
  • O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
  • R23 Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics: Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population; Neighborhood Characteristics
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