Parental Incarceration, Its Timing, and the Effects on Child Homelessness in America
Jerry Eiswerth | August 2025
Abstract
Parental incarceration and child homelessness rates both exploded in the United States from the 1980’s to the early 2000’s. Given that roughly half of all state and federal inmates in 2016 were parents of minor children, it may be that increases in parental incarceration are a primary cause of the rise in child homelessness. Therefore, understanding the link between parental incarceration and child homelessness is crucial for improving child well-being. This study uses panel data and a series of econometric techniques to estimate the relationship between parental incarceration and child homelessness, and finds that paternal incarceration is associated with higher rates of child homelessness in general, but finds no evidence that maternal incarceration has any effect. Further, it provides suggestive evidence that paternal incarceration may only have adverse effects if the father is incarcerated during early childhood, but provide a protective effect in middle adolescence.
Who Gets Pushed Out of School by Natural Disasters? Evidence from Costa Rica
Vincenzo Trunfio | August 2025
Abstract
In this paper, I identify and solve a methodological concern present in previous related literature. Then, using data from Costa Rica, I demonstrate that extreme weather events have negative consequences for human capital accumulation across several dimensions. I also show the effects are heterogeneous across genders, school grades, and zones; this allows me to identify vulnerable populations. Although my data does not allow me to rule out selective migration driving the effects on dropout rates, the patterns in the heterogeneity seem consistent with students dropping out rather than just transferring schools.
Doga Kirilmis | August 2025
Abstract
In this paper, I investigate the impact of non-labor income on parents’ activities in the labor market and in household formation. I exploit a provincial reform to the child benefit program in Alberta in 2016. My analysis utilizes a Differences-in-Differences research design with data from the Canadian Income Survey. My results suggest a reduction in working hours for single mothers, and an increase for single fathers. Savings fall on the individual and household level, and fertility has a small increase. The findings provide further evidence that gender norms continue to play a role in the persistence of the gender wage gap.