Effects of School Shootings on Risky Behavior, Health and Human Capital

We examine the effect of school shootings on health and human capital outcomes of exposed students as adults and on their migration during high school and a few years beyond. The analytic dataset use shootings compiled by the Center for Homeland Defense and Security with 2003-2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. To study migration, we use the 2004-2018 American Community Survey. We find that students exposed to school shootings experience declines in health and well-being, engage in more risky behaviors, and have worse education and labor market outcomes as young adults. There is no evidence of migration in response to school shootings.