We compare teacher preparation programs in Missouri based on the effectiveness of their graduates in the classroom. The differences in effectiveness between teachers from different preparation programs are very small. In fact, virtually all of the variation in teacher effectiveness comes from...

We construct a large panel dataset of schools and districts in Florida to evaluate curricular effectiveness in elementary mathematics. A key innovation of our study is that we allow for curriculum quality to be non-uniform across various mathematics subtopics. We find evidence of variability in...

We examine the effects of mixed sampling frequencies and temporal aggregation on standard tests for cointegration. While it is well known that aggregation and sampling frequency do not affect the long-run properties of time series, we find that the effects of aggregation on the size of commonly...

There is increased policy interest in extending the test-based evaluation framework in K-12 education to include student achievement in high school. High school achievement is typically measured by performance on end-of-course exams (EOCs), which test course-specific standards in subjects...

We estimate positional "wins above replacement" (WAR) in the National Football League (NFL). Positional WAR measures the value of players in the NFL, by position, in terms of generating wins. WAR is a commonly used metric to evaluate individual players in professional baseball and basketball in...

Stock market reactions to political events demonstrate that the value of some firms is strongly affected by which party controls political power. However, contrary to common perception, event studies do not indicate that the ability to make unlimited political contributions or expenditures...

I propose two simple variable addition test statistics for three tests of the specification of high-frequency predictors in a model to forecast a series observed at a lower frequency. The first is similar to existing test statistics and I show that it is robust to biased forecasts, integrated...

Temporary Help Services (THS) employment has been growing in size, particularly among disadvantaged workers. An extended policy debate focuses on the low earnings, limited benefits, and insecurity that such jobs appear to provide. We investigate the earnings and wage differentials observed...

We introduce a panel model with a nonparametric functional coefficient of multiple arguments. The coefficient is a function both of time, allowing temporal changes in an otherwise linear model, and of the regressor itself, allowing nonlinearity. In contrast to a time series model, the effects of...

We study the effect of increases in state minimum wages on the prices of several fast-food items using quarterly city-level data from 1993-2012, a period during much of which the federal minimum wage declined in real value while state-level legislation flourished. For two products, burgers and...