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Do cognitive skills moderate the influence of neighborhood disadvantage on subsequent educational attainment?

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  • Aughinbaugh, Alison
  • Rothstein, Donna S.

Abstract

This paper examines how neighborhood quality affects young adults’ educational outcomes, and whether neighborhood effects are moderated by cognitive test scores and other proxies for investments during childhood. The empirical results imply that high cognitive test scores help young adults overcome the effects of having lived in a disadvantaged neighborhood during adolescence with respect to attainment of a high school diploma and enrollment in a two- or four-year college. The results are robust to using alternative proxies for investments in children, such as mother's highest grade completed and measures of non-cognitive skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Aughinbaugh, Alison & Rothstein, Donna S., 2015. "Do cognitive skills moderate the influence of neighborhood disadvantage on subsequent educational attainment?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 83-99.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:44:y:2015:i:c:p:83-99
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2014.10.004
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Neighborhood effects; High school diploma; College attendance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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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