We estimate the causal effects of a large unanticipated natural disaster on high schoolers’ university enrolment decisions and subsequent medium-term labour market outcomes. Using national administrative data after a destructive earthquake in New Zealand, we estimate that the disaster raises tertiary education enrolment of recent high school graduates by 6.1 percentage points. The effects are most pronounced for males, students who are academically weak relative to their peers, and students from schools directly damaged by the disaster. As relatively low ability males are overrepresented in sectors of the labour market helped by the earthquake, greater demand for university may stem from permanent changes in deeper behavioural parameters such as risk aversion or time preference, rather than as a coping response to poor economic opportunities.
A PDF copy of pages 112-113 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The pages document the transitional project 'On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer'. Image: Michael Parekowhai Chapman's Homer 2011. Bronze, stainless steel. Courtesy of the artist and Michael Lett, Auckland. Photo with permission: Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu. Photo: John Collie.
A photograph of a media briefing on the Christchurch earthquake response. The briefing was held in the in the Christchurch Art Gallery, which served as the temporary Civil Defence headquarters after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A PDF copy of pages 274-275 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The pages document the transitional project 'Central City Plan (Draft Central City Recovery Plan for Ministerial Approval, December 2011)'. Photos with permission: CCC
Depicts huge elderly woman with 'CERA' on her dress scolding smaller adult dressed as schoolboy near bustop with sign 'CBD red zone tours' Text reads 'And don't talk to strangers and don't cross the road and remember to eat your lunch..' Context: After the 22 Feburary 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, the central business district (CBD) was marked as a red zone. Red zone areas were deemed unsuitable for habitation due to significant damage and at high risk of further damage from low levels of earth shaking. CERA (Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Authority) ran public bus tours of the Christchurch CBD from November to December 2011. For safety reasons the public was not allowed off the buses as it was a dangerous and active demolition site. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Note the innovative use of hay bales on the left side of the image.
Response 66 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 71 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 68 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 8 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 59 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 62 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 49 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 2 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 3 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 64 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 11 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 12 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 17 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 15 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 1 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 53 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 55 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 51 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 56 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 57 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 5 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 52 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 60 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 6 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.