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The Academic Effects of Chronic Exposure to Neighborhood Violence

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We estimate the causal effect of repeated exposure to violent crime on test scores in New York City. We use two distinct empirical strategies; value-added models linking student performance on standardized exams to violent crimes on a student’s residential block, and a regression discontinuity approach that identifies the acute effect of an additional crime exposure within a one-week window. Exposure to violent crime reduces academic performance. Value added models suggest the average effect is very small; approximately -0.01 standard deviations in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. RD models suggest a larger effect, particularly among children previously exposed. The marginal acute effect is as large as -0.04 standard deviations for students with two or more prior exposures. Among these, it is even larger for black students, almost a 10th of a standard deviation. We provide credible causal evidence that repeated exposure to neighborhood violence harms test scores, and this negative effect increases with exposure.

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  • Amy Ellen Schwartz & Agustina Laurito & Johanna Lacoe & Patrick Sharkey & Ingrid Gould Ellen, 2016. "The Academic Effects of Chronic Exposure to Neighborhood Violence," Center for Policy Research Working Papers 195, Center for Policy Research, Maxwell School, Syracuse University.
    • Handle: RePEc:max:cprwps:195
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    1. Brian A. Jacob, 2004. "Public Housing, Housing Vouchers, and Student Achievement: Evidence from Public Housing Demolitions in Chicago," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(1), pages 233-258, March.
    2. Lisa Sanbonmatsu & Jeffrey R. Kling & Greg J. Duncan & Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, 2006. "Neighborhoods and Academic Achievement: Results from the Moving to Opportunity Experiment," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 41(4).
    3. PatrickSharkey & Amy Ellen Schwartz & Ingrid Gould Ellen & Johanna Lacoe, 2013. "High stakes in the classroom, high stakes on the street: The effects of community violence on students’ standardized test performance," Working Paper 9313, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate.
    4. Raj Chetty & Nathaniel Hendren & Lawrence F. Katz, 2016. "The Effects of Exposure to Better Neighborhoods on Children: New Evidence from the Moving to Opportunity Experiment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 106(4), pages 855-902, April.
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    1. Agustina Laurito & Johanna Lacoe & Amy Ellen Schwartz & Patrick Sharkey & Ingrid Gould Ellen, "undated". "School Climate and the Impact of Neighborhood Crime on Test Scores," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 22946c6212374659afcb48ce0, Mathematica Policy Research.
    2. Ingrid Gould Ellen & Stephen L. Ross, 2018. "Race and the City," Working Papers 2018-022, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    3. Cordes, Sarah A. & Schwartz, Amy Ellen & Elbel, Brian, 2023. "The effects of owner-occupied housing on student outcomes: Evidence from NYC," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Neighborhood Effects; Crime; Academic Performance; Racial Disparities; Educational Outcomes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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