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Math skills and market and non-market outcomes: Evidence from an Amazonian society of forager-farmers

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  • Undurraga, Eduardo A.
  • Behrman, Jere R.
  • Grigorenko, Elena L.
  • Schultz, Alan
  • Yiu, Julie
  • TAPS Bolivia Study Team,
  • Godoy, Ricardo A.

Abstract

Research in industrial nations suggests that formal math skills are associated with improvements in market and non-market outcomes. But do these associations also hold in a highly autarkic setting with a limited formal labor market? We examined this question using observational annual panel data (2008 and 2009) from 1121 adults in a native Amazonian society of forager-farmers in Bolivia (Tsimane’). Formal math skills were associated with an increase in wealth in durable market goods and in total wealth between data collection rounds, and with improved indicators of own reported perceived stress and child health. These associations did not vary significantly by people's Spanish skills or proximity to town. We conclude that the positive association between math skills and market and non-market outcomes extends beyond industrial nations to even highly autarkic settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Undurraga, Eduardo A. & Behrman, Jere R. & Grigorenko, Elena L. & Schultz, Alan & Yiu, Julie & TAPS Bolivia Study Team, & Godoy, Ricardo A., 2013. "Math skills and market and non-market outcomes: Evidence from an Amazonian society of forager-farmers," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 138-147.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:37:y:2013:i:c:p:138-147
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2013.09.004
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    1. Bauchet, Jonathan & Undurraga, Eduardo A. & Reyes-García, Victoria & Behrman, Jere R. & Godoy, Ricardo A., 2018. "Conditional cash transfers for primary education: Which children are left out?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 1-12.
    2. Eduardo A. Undurraga & Ariela Zycherman & Julie Yiu & Taps Bolivia Study Team & Ricardo A. Godoy, 2014. "Savings at the Periphery of Markets: Evidence from Forager-Farmers in the Bolivian Amazon," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(2), pages 288-301, February.
    3. Undurraga, Eduardo A. & Nica, Veronica & Zhang, Rebecca & Mensah, Irene C. & Godoy, Ricardo A., 2016. "Individual health and the visibility of village economic inequality: Longitudinal evidence from native Amazonians in Bolivia," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 18-26.
    4. Leonard, William R. & Reyes-García, Victoria & Tanner, Susan & Rosinger, Asher & Schultz, Alan & Vadez, Vincent & Zhang, Rebecca & Godoy, Ricardo, 2015. "The Tsimane’ Amazonian Panel Study (TAPS): Nine years (2002–2010) of annual data available to the public," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 51-61.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Economic development; Educational economics; Human capital;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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