Alejandra Traferri
Instituto de Economia - Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Research Papers
State Dependence and Heterogeneity in Health Using a Bias Corrected Fixed Effects Estimator.Jesus Carro and Alejandra Traferri, Journal of Applied Econometrics, 29 (2) 181-207, 2014.
This paper estimates a dynamic ordered probit model of self-assessed health with two fixed effects: one in the linear index equation and one in the cut points. This robustly controls for heterogeneity in unobserved health status and in reporting behavior, although we cannot separate both sources of heterogeneity. We find important state dependence effects, and small, but significant effects of income and other socioeconomic variables. Having dynamics and flexibly accounting for unobserved heterogeneity matters for those estimates. We also contribute to the bias correction literature in nonlinear panel models by comparing and applying two of the existing proposals to our model.
Gender Differences in Major Choice and College Entrance Probabilities in Brazil.
Alejandra Traferri.
I study gender differences in major choice and college entrance probabilities in University of Campinas, a Brazilian public university dependent on the State of Sao Paulo. As with most Brazilian public universities, students select a major, and then compete for a place in that major by taking a major-specific entrance exam. This singular characteristic of the Brazilian case allows me to differentiate the effect of gender on major-specific entrance probabilities and preferences. I propose a model and econometric strategy which can account for two important issues, selectivity bias and the fact that expected utility depends on the probability of entering the different majors. I find evidence of gender differences in preferences and entrance probabilities. For most majors, gender differences in major choice are mostly explained by differences in preferences. However, for the most demanding majors (those that require higher grades from students), differences in major choice are explained in a large proportion by differences in entrance probabilities. Finally, I find that gender has important interactions with other variables. In particular, gender effects depend on education, socioeconomic characteristics and family background.
Temporary Employment and Firm Ownership Nationality: Evidence from Spain.
Alejandra Traferri.
This paper analyzes the differences in the proportion of temporary employees of domestic and foreign firms in the Spanish manufacturing sector. I estimate sample selection models using data from the Survey on Managerial Strategies (ESEE) in 1991-2005. I find there is a clear relation between the nationality of the owners of the firm and the type of labor contracts offered, even after controlling for observable firm characteristics and unobservable fixed effects. In particular, the share of temporary employees is significantly lower for foreign firms and this effect decreases with firm size.