Date of Graduation
5-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Economics
Advisor/Mentor
Jung, Hyunseok
Committee Member
Li, Sherry
Second Committee Member
Gaduh, Arya
Keywords
Cellphone Data; Diversity; Immigrants; Mass shootings; Remote work; Teams
Abstract
This dissertation uses econometric and experimental tools to study differential labor market outcomes, behavioral responses to mass violence, and team integration in the face of diversity.
The first chapter sheds light on the ongoing discussion of the gaps in labor market outcomes between natives and immigrants. Using both parametric and nonparametric estimation techniques on a rich dataset (the European Social Survey), I demonstrate that, even after accounting for selection into the labor force, immigrants are less likely to find employment than natives. A strong country-of-origin identity harms immigrants’ employment chances. The evidence suggests immigrants’ employment chances are also affected by the intensity of cultural differentials and by the attitudes of natives.
The second chapter documents changes in short-run economic activity after 42 mass shootings between 2018 and 2022 in the United States. Exploiting a large dataset of foot traffic to over 150 thousand points of interest (POIs), I use event study and Difference-in-Differences methodologies to evaluate the evolution in the number of visits to the places surrounding shooting sites. Results reveal that foot traffic patterns within a 5-mile radius from the shooting sites significantly change over time, resulting in a considerable relocation of economic activity.
The third chapter adds a level of depth to the study of teams – one that allows for the evaluation of team integration in the presence of diversity in a context where physical proximity to teammates is not a given. Using a lab experiment, I demonstrate that working in teams remotely does not affect cooperation, on average, and that the quality of a team and the identity of teammates plays a lesser role an individual’s cooperative behavior when the team does not interact in person.
Taken together, these chapters deepen our understanding of how diversity and violent social events affect economic outcomes, while opening interesting paths for future research.
Citation
Cuellar Chavez, M. E. (2025). Studies on the Economic Effects of Violence and Diversity. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/5731
