An Olympic Opportunity

Christos Genakos, Eleni Kyrkopoulou and Elias Papaioannou

No 21319, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: We use a unique natural experiment in which families were randomly selected to live in the Olympic Village, constructed for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, to assess the impact of improved neighborhood conditions on academic achievement. Comparing 12–17-year-old students who relocated and attended the new schools with non-selected applicants from the same origin schools across Attica, we find a positive, gender-neutral, and significant effect of moving on overall performance. Educational gains, primarily in language courses, are concentrated among students who previously performed poorly, indicating a “fresh start†effect.

Keywords: Social experimentation; Housing; Neighborhoods; Peer effects; Education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H43 I2 I3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-03
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