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Valentina Duque, American University

The Effects of Free Homes on Children: Evidence from a National Experiment in Colombia
When Apr 14, 2025
from 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM
Where 2208 LeFrak / Online
Contact Name
Contact Phone 301-405-6403
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About the Presentation

We analyze the effect of Colombia’s ambitious “Free Housing” program on children’s educational outcomes. The program was generous, giving free housing to beneficiaries in desirable areas. We evaluate the program by leveraging housing lotteries and linking applicants to their children. We find that public housing increases high school graduation by seven percentage points – a seventeen percent increase relative to the control mean – and boosts exit exam scores and college-going. Exploring mechanisms, lottery winners attend better schools, their families become wealthier, and they live in higher income neighborhoods with less crime.

About the Speaker

Valentina Duque

I am an economist working at the intersection of health and development economics. My research analyses how public policies and other events influence the outcomes of children and families, with a special focus on estimating long run and intergenerational impacts. My work has contributed to three broad research areas. The first studies the effects of pervasive shocks that affect millions of families across the world—economic fluctuations, pollution, weather, and violence—on children’s human capital. The second explores the potential mitigating role of public policies to address these shocks. My most recent area examines the role of housing and neighborhoods in shaping disadvantaged families’ health and socio-economic trajectories.

 

Seminar Format

Location IN PERSON: 2208 LeFrak Hall. We are requesting advanced registration so that we can track capacity. Please use this link to RSVP for in-person attendance.

Location ONLINE VIA ZOOM: Zoom Registration Link.  Upon registration, you will receive an automatically generated email with the direct link for the seminar

If accommodations are needed, please send request to meeting organizer (mprc-support@umd.edu) at least 72 hours prior to the event, if possible, to allow time to discuss and implement alternatives.

COVID-19 Information

MPRC public events for Spring 2025 will be a mix of in person and online via Zoom.  For in person events, all event attendees must follow current protocols.

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