Working Papers

A red figure with a graduation cap stands amidst graphs, DNA symbols, a mortarboard icon, and a bag with a percentage sign, representing data analysis in education, finance, and genetics. w A red figure with a graduation cap stands amidst graphs, DNA symbols, a mortarboard icon, and a bag with a percentage sign, representing data analysis in education, finance, and genetics.
Returns to Education

Reevaluating the returns to education based on the twin design study from Ashenfelter and Krueger 1994. Using new methods and new data to reconsider the age old question on how much income increases for additional educations. I want to consider both the original additional year and the newer degree achievement.

A central figure in red, surrounded by icons representing various concepts: a clipboard with a certificate, handshake, a person teaching a group, and stacked books. Graphs with upward trends with data points flank the central figure on both sides A central figure in red, surrounded by icons representing various concepts: a clipboard with a certificate, handshake, a person teaching a group, and stacked books. Graphs with upward trends with data points flank the central figure on both sides
Student Performance under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): A National Analysis

Education plays a vital role in shaping society, making it essential to evaluate policies for their effectiveness. Effective policies should boost student success rather than hinder students' progress or waste resources. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), signed into law in 2015, aimed to address the shortcomings of its predecessor, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). NCLB was extensively researched and criticized for its strict national accountability requirements. In contrast, ESSA shifted the burden of the accountability determination to the states; however, the effectiveness of ESSA remains under-researched. This paper aims to evaluate the ESSA’s effect on student performance by leveraging variation in state implementation timelines. I develop a cohort-based model integrating differences-in-differences and event study methodologies. Student performance data includes National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) and ACT/SAT scores from 2006 to 2022 across all 50 states. Results indicate mixed outcomes: insignificant positive effects on college entrance exams and insignificant negative effects on fourth and eighth graders. The lack of statistically significant improvements suggests that ESSA has not yet achieved its goal of improving education outcomes.

Pre-Ph.D Research

A collage of white icons on a black background, featuring graphs, a clipboard with charts, a briefcase, people next to an upward arrow, a person celebrating, and an open book. A red figure wearing a graduation cap stands in the center A collage of black icons on a white background, featuring graphs, a clipboard with charts, a briefcase, people next to an upward arrow, a person celebrating, and an open book. A red figure wearing a graduation cap stands in the center
The Economics Undergraduate Degree

This was my undergraduate thesis. It considered the economics undergraduate degree and how it prepared students for the future. Their future in a business, law, or economics. The research was primarily to synthesis the past research and consider the possible incentives and implications of the different decisions made. The primary attribute was the gap between mathematics required in undergraduate programs compared to the math required before entrance to an economics graduate program.

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Other Projects for completeness

Titles:

  • “Perceptions about Texas Economy and Culture”
  • “The Political Imbalance of Higher Education: Its effects on Students Education.”
  • “The Gold Standard: An Analysis of Its Impact on the US Economy.”