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Seeing Is Believing: Experimental Evidence on the Impact of Eyeglasses on Academic Performance, Aspirations, and Dropout among Junior High School Students in Rural China

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  • Jingchun Nie
  • Xiaopeng Pang
  • Lei Wang
  • Scott Rozelle
  • Sean Sylvia

Abstract

We present results of a randomized trial testing the impact on academic outcomes of providing free eyeglasses to junior high school students in a poor rural area of western China. We find that providing free prescription eyeglasses approximately halves dropout rates over a school year among students who did not own eyeglasses at baseline. Effects on dropout are mirrored by improvements in student performance on standardized exams in math and aspirations for further schooling.

Suggested Citation

  • Jingchun Nie & Xiaopeng Pang & Lei Wang & Scott Rozelle & Sean Sylvia, 2020. "Seeing Is Believing: Experimental Evidence on the Impact of Eyeglasses on Academic Performance, Aspirations, and Dropout among Junior High School Students in Rural China," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 68(2), pages 335-355.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:ecdecc:doi:10.1086/700631
    DOI: 10.1086/700631
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    Cited by:

    1. Kang Du & Huan Wang & Yue Ma & Hongyu Guan & Scott Rozelle, 2022. "Effect of Eyeglasses on Student Academic Performance: What Matters? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-18, September.
    2. Bing Xu & William A.V. Clark & Eric Fong & Li Gan, 2020. "Introduction to the special collection on life course decisions of families in China," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 43(5), pages 129-142.
    3. Cazzuffi, Chiara & Díaz, Vivián & Fernández, Juan & Leyton, Cristian, 2020. "Spatial inequality and aspirations for economic inclusion among Latin American youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    4. Guan, Hongyu & Zhang, Yunyun & Du, Kang & Wang, Zhijie & Shi, Yaojiang, 2024. "Revisit the one-time subsidies and long-run adoption of health products: Quasi-experimental evidence from providing free eyeglasses in rural China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    5. Huan Zhou & Ruixue Ye & Sean Sylvia & Nathan Rose & Scott Rozelle, 2020. "“At three years of age, we can see the future”: Cognitive skills and the life cycle of rural Chinese children," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 43(7), pages 169-182.
    6. Juerong Huang & Hongjing Dang & Yan Cai & Juan Liu & Qihui Chen, 2022. "Myopia and Depression among Middle School Students in China—Is There a Mediating Role for Wearing Eyeglasses?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-18, October.

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