Browsing by Author "Rau, Tomas"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Modeling structural equations with endogenous regressors and heterogeneity through derivative constraints
    (2013) Rau, Tomas
    In this paper, I present a general modeling framework for nonparametric models with endogenous regressors and heterogeneity. I show that many existing models in the literature can be derived from a structural equation with unobserved heterogeneity by imposing constancy assumptions on the first and second derivatives. I consider a less restrictive model that imposes constancy assumptions on the second partial derivative of the structural equation. Assuming the existence of suitable instrumental variables, I provide identification results and show that the model can be estimated using a generalized control function approach. I consider an application to the estimation of the returns to education in Chile, exploiting variation across regions and cohorts in educational infrastructure and compulsory schooling laws. Using penalized spline functions to approximate the components of the average structural function, I find that the local average returns to schooling are highly nonlinear and typically underestimated by flexible models that ignore the endogeneity of schooling. I also find evidence of credential effects for high school and college graduates, and limited evidence of comparative advantage bias in the returns to certain levels of education.
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    Teacher value-added and the test score gender gap
    (2024) Garcia-Echalar, Andres; Poblete, Sebastian; Rau, Tomas
    This paper assesses the effect of teachers on the gender gap in student test scores. It combines different empirical strategies from the value-added and labor economics literature to estimate teacher value-added and its contribution to the math and reading gender gaps. We use rich administrative data from Chile that allow us to follow teachers through different classes in different years. Our main findings indicate that teachers explain up to 18% of student test score variance and help reduce the gender gap in math by 16.9%. The reduction in the math gender gap is greater in voucher schools (16.1%), among students with more educated mothers (24%) and among those with female math teachers (32.2%). We provide evidence supporting a within-class effect, instead of sorting (between-class) effect. We conduct several tests and robustness checks to assess the reliability of our findings.
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    The children of the missed pill
    (ELSEVIER, 2021) Rau, Tomas; Sarzosa, Miguel; Urzua, Sergio
    We assess the impact of exogenous variation in oral contraceptives prices -a year-long decline followed by a sharp increase due to a documented collusion case -on fertility decisions and new-borns' outcomes. Our empirical strategy follows an interrupted time-series design, which is imple-mented using multiple sources of administrative information. As prices skyrocketed (45% within a few weeks), the Pill's consumption plunged, and weekly conceptions increased (3.2% after a few months). We show large effects on the number of children born to unmarried mothers, to mothers in their early twenties, and to primiparae women. The incidence of low birth weight and fetal/infant deaths increased (declined) as the cost of birth control pills rose (fell). In addition, we document a disproportional increase in the weekly miscarriage and stillbirth rates. As children reached school age, we find lower school enrollment rates and higher participation in special education programs. Our evidence suggests these "extra " conceptions were more likely to face adverse conditions during critical periods of development.
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    The Effects of a Maternity Leave Reform on Children's Abilities and Maternal Outcomes in Chile
    (2019) Albagli, Pinjas; Rau, Tomas
    This article studies a change in paid maternity leave entitlements in Chile. We exploit a reform that increased paid leave from 12 to 24 weeks for mothers of children born on 25 July 2011 or later. We estimate the effects of reform exposure on different children and maternal outcomes finding significant and positive effects on children's cognitive abilities, especially for those with less educated mothers. There is an increase in the probability of breastfeeding at least six months and breastfeeding durations. Maternal stress exhibits a significant reduction and there is an increase in employment of exposed mothers after maternity leave.
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