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Schoolgirls Not Brides: Secondary Education as a Shield Against Child Marriage

Author

Listed:
  • Hélène Giacobino

    (J-PAL)

  • Elise Huillery

    (Université Paris Dauphine – PSL and J-PAL)

  • Bastien Michel

    (Paris School of Economics and Aarhus University)

  • Mathilde Sage

    (Université Paris Dauphine – PSL)

Abstract

This paper examines whether eliminating financial and logistical barriers to secondary education can reduce child marriage. Using a randomized controlled trial including 285 localities in Niger, which ranks last in gender development indices, we show that offering a scholarship upon admission to middle school halves both school dropout and child marriage. It also raises girls’ aspirations for themselves as well as mothers’ aspirations for their daughter, plausibly due to changes in girls’ human capital and preferences. As we find no evidence of displacement effects on non-beneficiary adolescent girls, the scholarship creates unambiguously large social benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Hélène Giacobino & Elise Huillery & Bastien Michel & Mathilde Sage, 2022. "Schoolgirls Not Brides: Secondary Education as a Shield Against Child Marriage," Working Papers DT/2022/01, DIAL (Développement, Institutions et Mondialisation).
    • Handle: RePEc:dia:wpaper:dt202201
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Child Marriage; Education; Women Empowerment; Externalities; Niger;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics

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    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

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