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About the Event

This week the Research Seminars in Economics welcomes Sonia Bhalotra (University of Warwick).

If you would like to attend this seminar as a non-King's academic staff member, please contact economics.seminars@kcl.ac.uk.

Antidepressant Use and School Academic Achievement (joint with Meltem Daysal and Mircea Trandafir)

Abstract: We investigate impacts of antidepressant treatment on academic achievement among Danish children who are referred to a child psychiatrist. Leveraging quasi-random assignment of patients to psychiatrists with different prescribing tendencies, we find that treatment significantly increases test scores, particularly in math. Treatment effects are larger among children of less educated mothers who, in general, are less likely to be treated, indicating negative selection on gains based on observables. However, there is positive selection on gains based on unobservables. Further analysis of marginal treatment effects and policy simulations indicate under-prescribing, contributing to controversy over the net benefits of antidepressants to children.

Event details

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Bush House North East Wing
Bush House North East Wing, 30 Aldwych, WC2B 4BG