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Redistribution without distortion: Evidence from an affirtmative action program at a large Brazilian university

Redistribution without distortion: Evidence from an affirtmative action program at a large Brazilian university
Redistribution without distortion: Evidence from an affirtmative action program at a large Brazilian university
In this paper, we examine an innovative affirmative action policy designed to increase the representation of underprivileged students at UNICAMP, a large and highly ranked Brazilian university. The university awarded bonus points to targeted applicants (i.e., public high school applicants) on their admission exam, as opposed to imposing a typical quota system. Using a rich set of administrative data from UNICAMP, we assess the effect of this policy on the composition of admitted students, and investigate possible behavioral responses at the extensive (participation) and intensive (preparation effort) margins. We find that the admission probability of public high school applicants, the targeted applicants, significantly increased following the adoption of the affirmative action program. The policy was also associated with sizable redistribution in the composition of admitted students, with a shift towards students from families with lower socio-
economic status. Surprisingly, we find little evidence of behavioral reactions to the affirmative action policy, in terms of test performance or application decision.
Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade da Universidade de São Paulo
Estevan, Fernanda
90355085-b671-4cca-afbc-f971ba12e8c9
Gall, Thomas
8df67f3d-fe3c-4a3f-8ce7-e2090557fcd4
Morin, Louis-Philippe
6093bba9-3e17-4407-aef6-f5c03ce4a165
Estevan, Fernanda
90355085-b671-4cca-afbc-f971ba12e8c9
Gall, Thomas
8df67f3d-fe3c-4a3f-8ce7-e2090557fcd4
Morin, Louis-Philippe
6093bba9-3e17-4407-aef6-f5c03ce4a165

Estevan, Fernanda, Gall, Thomas and Morin, Louis-Philippe (2016) Redistribution without distortion: Evidence from an affirtmative action program at a large Brazilian university Sao Paulo. Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade da Universidade de São Paulo 55pp.

Record type: Monograph (Discussion Paper)

Abstract

In this paper, we examine an innovative affirmative action policy designed to increase the representation of underprivileged students at UNICAMP, a large and highly ranked Brazilian university. The university awarded bonus points to targeted applicants (i.e., public high school applicants) on their admission exam, as opposed to imposing a typical quota system. Using a rich set of administrative data from UNICAMP, we assess the effect of this policy on the composition of admitted students, and investigate possible behavioral responses at the extensive (participation) and intensive (preparation effort) margins. We find that the admission probability of public high school applicants, the targeted applicants, significantly increased following the adoption of the affirmative action program. The policy was also associated with sizable redistribution in the composition of admitted students, with a shift towards students from families with lower socio-
economic status. Surprisingly, we find little evidence of behavioral reactions to the affirmative action policy, in terms of test performance or application decision.

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More information

Published date: 22 March 2016
Organisations: Economics

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Local EPrints ID: 410434
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/410434
PURE UUID: 4f2f1960-f29c-4cc7-a350-905952051ec8
ORCID for Thomas Gall: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2257-1405

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 08 Jun 2017 16:31
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 04:14

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Contributors

Author: Fernanda Estevan
Author: Thomas Gall ORCID iD
Author: Louis-Philippe Morin

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