DP3818 The Effects of Overcrowded Housing on Children's Performance at School

Author(s):	Dominique Goux, Eric Maurin
Publication Date:	March 2003
Keyword(s):	overcrowded housing, school performance
JEL(s):	I21, J24
Programme Areas:	Labour Economics, Public Economics
Link to this Page:	cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=3818

In France, almost one in five 15 year olds lives in a home with at least two children per bedroom. More than 60% of these adolescents have been held back in primary or middle school, a proportion that is more than 20 points higher than it is on average for adolescents of the same age. This Paper develops a semi-parametric analysis that suggests a relation of cause and effect between living in an overcrowded home and falling behind at school. According to our estimations, the disparity in living conditions is a very important channel through which parents? lack of financial resources affects their children?s schooling.