How Do Hurricanes Impact Achievement in School? A Caribbean Perspective

Nekeisha Spencer, Solomon Polachek and Eric Strobl ()

No 10169, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This study examines whether hurricanes have any impact on performance in standardized examinations. The analysis uses a panel of thirteen Caribbean countries and over 800 schools for the period 1993 through 2010. In particular, the effect on subjects in the humanities and sciences are examined. A generalized difference-in-difference technique is utilized to study the relationship at the school, parish, year and country level. The results show a negative and significant effect on performance in the sciences if hurricanes strike when school is in session and a positive or no effect when school is not in session. In addition, subjects in the humanities remain unaffected.

Keywords: rate of return; human capital; hurricanes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I2 Q54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 62 pages
Date: 2016-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Forthcoming - published in: Natural Hazards, 2016, 84(2), 1437-1462.

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