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School Grants and Education Quality: Experimental Evidence from Senegal

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  • Pedro Carneiro
  • Oswald Koussihouèdé
  • Nathalie Lahire
  • Costas Meghir
  • Corina Mommaerts

Abstract

The effect of increasing school resources on educational outcomes is a central issue in the debate on improving school quality. In this paper we use a randomized experiment to analyse the impact of a school grants programme in Senegal, which allowed schools to apply for funding for pedagogic improvements of their choice. We find positive effects on test scores at lower grades that persist for at least two years. These effects are concentrated among schools that focused funds on human resources improvements rather than school materials, reinforcing that teachers and principals are a central determinant of school quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Pedro Carneiro & Oswald Koussihouèdé & Nathalie Lahire & Costas Meghir & Corina Mommaerts, 2020. "School Grants and Education Quality: Experimental Evidence from Senegal," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 87(345), pages 28-51, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:econom:v:87:y:2020:i:345:p:28-51
    DOI: 10.1111/ecca.12302
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