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A Scientific Approach to Addressing Social Issues Using Administrative Data

Author

Listed:
  • Green, David A.

    (University of British Columbia, Vancouver)

  • Simard-Duplain, Gaëlle

    (Carleton University)

  • Sweetman, Arthur

    (McMaster University)

  • Warburton, William P.

    (Enterprise Economic Consulting)

Abstract

Linked administrative data on education, health, social services, and crime from British Columbia, Canada, are used to document the relationship between measures of secondary educational attainment and indicators of poor outcomes later in life. Poor outcomes are seen to manifest primarily among high school dropouts. Next, we document the ability of characteristics observed in administrative data in grade 4 to predict high school graduation using a very simple model. It is straightforward to identify more than one fifth of future dropouts reasonably accurately. Non-cognitive measures (esp. social and emotional characteristics) are better predictors of educational attainment than cognitive ones. We discuss the implications of these findings for a scientific approach for developing interventions to prevent poor outcomes later in life.

Suggested Citation

  • Green, David A. & Simard-Duplain, Gaëlle & Sweetman, Arthur & Warburton, William P., 2023. "A Scientific Approach to Addressing Social Issues Using Administrative Data," IZA Policy Papers 199, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izapps:pp199
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    poverty alleviation; high school graduation;

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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