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Hidden human capital: Self-efficacy, aspirations and achievements of adolescent and young women in India

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  • Roy, Sanchari
  • Morton, Matthew
  • Bhattacharya, Shrayana

Abstract

This paper studies the role of non-cognitive skills like self-efficacy in explaining the education and employment aspirations and outcomes of adolescent and young women in Jharkhand, India. We find that self-efficacy is an important correlate of the educational and employment aspirations of these women, and ultimately, of their actual attainments. This suggests that such “hidden” forms of human capital may serve as critical targets for interventions aimed at altering young women’s educational and economic trajectories. We also examine factors that correlate with young women’s level of self-efficacy, and find that an “enabling” and supportive family and community environment appears to be important.

Suggested Citation

  • Roy, Sanchari & Morton, Matthew & Bhattacharya, Shrayana, 2018. "Hidden human capital: Self-efficacy, aspirations and achievements of adolescent and young women in India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 161-180.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:111:y:2018:i:c:p:161-180
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.07.002
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    9. Botea, Ioana & Donald, Aletheia & Rouanet, Léa, 2021. "In it to win it? Self-esteem and income-earning among couples," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 488-506.
    10. Avdeenko, Alexandra & Bohne, Albrecht & Frölich, Markus, 2019. "Linking savings behavior, confidence and individual feedback: A field experiment in Ethiopia," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 122-151.
    11. Mark Mitchell & Marta Favara & Catherine Porter & Alan Sánchez, 2025. "Human Capital Development: New Evidence on the Production of Socio-Emotional Skills," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 60(4), pages 1175-1216.
    12. Priyanka, Sadia, 2020. "Do female politicians matter for female labor market outcomes? Evidence from state legislative elections in India," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    13. Haroon, Maryiam & Said, Farah & Zafar, Mahniya, 2022. "Fostering non-cognitive skills and academic performance: Experimental evidence from women’s-only colleges in Pakistan," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    14. Utteeyo Dasgupta & Subha Mani & Smriti Sharma & Saurabh Singhal, 2023. "Social Identity, Behavior, and Personality: Evidence from India," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(4), pages 472-489, April.
    15. Costa, Valentina & Contreras, Ivette & Palacios-Lopez, Amparo, 2024. "Never Too Young to Dream Big : Measuring Youth Aspirations in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10816, The World Bank.
    16. Seemanti Ghosh, 2020. "Development of locus of control: A comparison between adolescents from middle- and lower-socioeconomic class," Working Papers 2020_23, Business School - Economics, University of Glasgow.
    17. Utteeyo Dasgupta & Subha Mani & Smriti Sharma & Saurabh Singhal, 2020. "Social Identity, Behavior, and Personality," Working Papers 308280016, Lancaster University Management School, Economics Department.

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    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • Z00 - Other Special Topics - - General - - - General

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