Working Paper: NBER ID: w31117
Authors: Rania Gihleb; Osea Giuntella; Jakub Lonsky
Abstract: This study investigates the effects of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) on the living arrangements and housing behavior of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Using an event-study approach and difference-in-differences (DID) estimates, we compared immigrants above and below eligibility cutoffs and demonstrated that, after the adoption of the policy in June 2012, DACA-eligible immigrants were less likely to live with their parents or in multigenerational households (-12.5%) and more likely to live independently (+15.5%). We also revealed that DACA-eligible immigrants were less likely to live in the same house (-2%) and more likely to quit ethnic enclaves (+8%). Notably, these patterns are not explained by the known effects of DACA on income and employment outcomes. Lower rental costs (-3%) may have facilitated this transition into adulthood and the observed trends in living arrangements. The DACA also led to a decline in marriage rates among DACA-eligible individuals, although we found no evidence of significant effects on cohabitation, divorce, and intermarriage. We also found no evidence of a clear impact on fertility.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: J13; J15; R20
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| DACA (K37) | living arrangements (R21) |
| DACA (K37) | living with parents (D19) |
| DACA (K37) | independent living (J14) |
| DACA (K37) | living in same house as previous year (R21) |
| DACA (K37) | quitting ethnic enclaves (R23) |
| DACA (K37) | marriage rates (J12) |
| DACA (K37) | cohabitation (J12) |
| DACA (K37) | divorce (J12) |
| DACA (K37) | intermarriage (J12) |
| DACA (K37) | fertility (J13) |