Research
Working Papers
Sibling Spillovers and Special Education Access
with Briana Ballis and Emily Dieckmann
Reduced special education access for one child reveals overlooked sibling benefits, exposing hidden family spillovers from targeted education policies.
Abstract
Over 13% of U.S. children receive special education (SpEd) services, which often involve substantial changes in educational investments for the identified child. However, little is known about how these services affect other children in the household. We study sibling spillovers using a 2005 Texas policy that capped district-level SpEd enrollment at 8.5%, resulting in abrupt declines in access. Leveraging linked birth and education records, we examine how reduced SpEd access for one child affects their siblings. We find that having a sibling more likely to lose SpEd leads to improvements in the non-disabled sibling’s long-run outcomes. These spillovers are unlikely to stem from direct sibling interactions and instead appear to reflect changes in parental investments. The magnitudes of these effects are substantial and highlight the importance of accounting for family spillovers in evaluating targeted programs, which often focus only on direct impacts.Bullets to Ballots
with Zhangping Cai
Understanding the relationship between violent criminal activity and voter participation.
Heterogeneous Effects of Sibling Composition on Family Formation
with Raymond Kim and Eujean Byun
Same-sex sibling effects significantly increase marriage rates and timing for men in the U.S, with strong heterogeniety across race and sex.
Abstract
This paper examines the effect of sibling sex composition on marriage outcomes in the United States using a, newly-constructed dataset from Texas covering individuals born between 1976- 1997. Leveraging both singleton and twin analyses, we find robust evidence that having a same-sex sibling significantly increases the likelihood of marriage and accelerates marriage timing. We also reveal substantial heterogeneity across racial groups with White individuals consistently showing strong effects. Furthermore, we document that sibling sex effects on marriage is predominantly present in wealthier counties. Our results highlight the importance of considering both racial background and socioeconomic context when studying family formation patterns.Work in Progress
Peer and Role Model Effects in Academic Competitions
Family Formation and Crime
with Zhangping Cai