Catholic Schools and Bad Behavior

39 Pages Posted: 21 Oct 2002

See all articles by Naci H. Mocan

Naci H. Mocan

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Benjamin P. Scafidi

Georgia College & State University; Kennesaw State University - Michael J. Coles College of Business

Erdal Tekin

Georgia State University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Date Written: October 2002

Abstract

Although there is a sizeable literature of the effect of private school attendance on academic student outcomes, there is a dearth of studies of the impact of school sector on non-academic outcomes. Using a rich data set, we analyze the impact of Catholic school attendance on the likelihood that teens use or sell drugs, commit property crime, have sex, join gangs, attempt suicide, and run away from home. Controlling for a host of personal and family background characteristics and adjusting for the endogeneity of sector choice, we cannot find evidence that Catholic schooling leads to a lower incidence of these risky behaviors among teenagers.

Keywords: Catholic School, Crime, Bad Behavior

JEL Classification: I2

Suggested Citation

Mocan, Naci H. and Scafidi, Benjamin P. and Tekin, Erdal, Catholic Schools and Bad Behavior (October 2002). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=341544 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.341544

Naci H. Mocan

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge - Department of Economics ( email )

Department of economics
Baton Rouge, LA 70803-6308
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Benjamin P. Scafidi

Georgia College & State University ( email )

CBX 14
Milledgeville, GA 31061
United States
478-445-2578 (Phone)

Kennesaw State University - Michael J. Coles College of Business ( email )

1000 Chastain Road
Kennesaw, GA 30144
United States

Erdal Tekin (Contact Author)

Georgia State University - Department of Economics ( email )

University Plaza
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Atlanta, GA 30303
United States
404-651-3968 (Phone)
404-651-4985 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

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