Paola Ugalde A.

The Labor Market Impact of K-11 vs. K-12

Scott Abrahams, Paola Ugalde A.. October 2025

Topics: Policy, Politics, and Governance

Tags: High schools, Returns to education and skills, School reform

In 1945, Louisiana extended secondary education from 11 years to 12. Since many students followed diploma-based stopping rules, consecutive birth cohorts exogenously received different amounts of schooling. We use this natural experiment to evaluate the long-run labor market impact of having an… more →
Download 10/2025
Political Views and College Choices in a Polarized America

Riley Acton, Emily Cook, Paola Ugalde A.. September 2025

Topics: Pathways to and Through Postsecondary

Tags: Higher education

We examine the role of students’ political views in shaping college enrollment decisions in the United States. We hypothesize that students derive utility from attending institutions aligned with their political identities, which could reinforce demographic and regional disparities in… more →
Download 09/2025