Violence, psychological stress and educational performance during the “war on drugs” in Mexico

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Development Economics
Year: 2020
Volume: 143
Issue: C

Authors (2)

Michaelsen, Maren M. (not in RePEc) Salardi, Paola (University of Toronto)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We provide evidence that violence in Mexico related to the “war on drugs” from 2006 to 2011 had a significant negative impact on educational performance that is primarily attributable to acute psychological stress among students in the immediate aftermath of local violence. Using geographically and temporally disaggregated data we demonstrate that the largest impacts of violence on educational performance result from homicides committed within the vicinity of schools during the week immediately prior to national standardized tests. This short-term impact increases with geographic proximity and levels of violence, and dramatically exceeds the effects of long-term violence spread over a full school year.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:deveco:v:143:y:2020:i:c:s0304387818303572
Journal Field
Development
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29