Katrina's Children: Evidence on the Structure of Peer Effects from Hurricane Evacuees

Scott Imberman, Adriana D. Kugler and Bruce Sacerdote ()

No 15291, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: In 2005, hurricanes Katrina and Rita forced many children to relocate across the Southeast. While schools quickly enrolled evacuees, receiving families worried about the impact of evacuees on non-evacuee students. Data from Houston and Louisiana show that, on average, the influx of evacuees moderately reduced elementary math test scores in Houston. We reject linear-in-means models of peer effects and find evidence of a highly non-linear but monotonic model - student achievement improves with high ability and worsens with low ability peers. Moreover, exposure to undisciplined evacuees increased native absenteeism and disciplinary problems, supporting a "bad apple" model in behavior.

JEL-codes: H23 I21 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab and nep-ure
Note: CH ED LS PE
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

Published as Scott A. Imberman & Adriana D. Kugler & Bruce I. Sacerdote, 2012. "Katrina's Children: Evidence on the Structure of Peer Effects from Hurricane Evacuees," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 102(5), pages 2048-82, August.

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