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The Effect of the Universal Primary Education Program on Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from Tanzania

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  • Esther Delesalle

    (UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES))

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to study the effect of education on labor market participation and household consumption in a rural environment. The Tanzanian Universal Primary Education (UPE) program, which provides variations in education across locations and over time, is used as a natural experiment. Exploiting these two exogenous variations to instrument education, I find that education increases household consumption, especially in agriculture and in nonfarm self-employment activities. I also provide evidence that education increases the probability of working in agriculture. These results, initially surprising, suggest that returns to education in agriculture are positive, provided that the skills taught at school are suitable for agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Esther Delesalle, 2019. "The Effect of the Universal Primary Education Program on Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from Tanzania," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2019010, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    • Handle: RePEc:ctl:louvir:2019010
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    File URL: https://sites.uclouvain.be/econ/DP/IRES/2019010.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Juan Segundo Zapiola, 2023. "Drought Shocks and School Attendance in Tanzania," Young Researchers Working Papers 12, Universidad de San Andres, Departamento de Economia, revised Aug 2023.
    2. Laia Navarro-Sola, 2021. "Secondary Schools with Televised Lessons: The Labor Market Returns of the Mexican Telesecundaria," Working Papers 2021-053, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Human capital investment; returns to education; labor market organization; schooling reforms; Tanzania;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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