Beheading a Hydra: Kingpin Extradition, Homicides, Education Outcomes, and the End of Medellin’s Pax Mafiosa

Gregory L. Haugan () and Rafael Santos ()
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Gregory L. Haugan: University of Chicago
Rafael Santos: Universidad de los Andes

No 21073, Documentos CEDE from Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE

Abstract: In 2008, a powerful Colombian crime lord (Don Berna) was extradited to the United States. Homicides doubled in his stronghold of Medellin immediately following the extradition. We use variation in time generated by the pre- and post-extradition periods, and variation in space generated by areas of Medellin originally controlled by Don Berna to estimate the impact of the extradition on homicides. We then use the extradition as an instrument for homicides, and show that the wave of violence had downstream effects on education outcomes in the city. Homicide exposure led to a decrease in test scores, increased student dropout (driven by males and poorer students), and increased teacher turnover among teachers with the highest qualifications. Homicides disproportionately affect the test scores of high-performing and non-poor students.

Keywords: Extradition; Homicides; Gang Violence; Education; Test scores (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D74 I25 J24 K42 O12 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 60 pages
Date: 2024-03-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lam, nep-law and nep-ure
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:col:000089:021073

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