Redistribution Without Distortion: Evidence from an Affirmative Action Programme at a Large Brazilian University

Fernanda Estevan, Thomas Gall and Louis-Philippe Morin

The Economic Journal, 2019, vol. 129, issue 619, 1182-1220

Abstract: We examine an innovative affirmative action policy at UNICAMP, a large and highly ranked Brazilian university, designed to enhance access for disadvantaged (public high school) applicants. The university awarded bonus points to targeted applicants in their admission exam. We assess the effect of this policy on the composition of admitted students and investigate possible behavioural responses in terms of examination preparation effort. We find that the policy significantly increased the admission probability of public high school applicants and redistributed university admission towards applicants from families with lower socio-economic status. Surprisingly, we find little evidence of behavioural reactions regarding examination preparation effort.

Date: 2019
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Related works:
Working Paper: Redistribution without Distortion: Evidence from an Affirmative Action Program at a Large Brazilian University (2016)
Working Paper: Redistribution without distortion: Evidence from an affirmative action program at a large Brazilian university (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oup:econjl:v:129:y:2019:i:619:p:1182-1220.

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