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Peer Gender and Schooling: Evidence from Ethiopia

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  • Daniel Borbely
  • Jonathan Norris
  • Agnese Romiti

Abstract

We study the relation of classmate gender composition to school absences and test scores in a context characterized by strong social norms and scarce school resources. We base our results on a unique survey of students across classrooms and schools in Ethiopia and exploit the random assignment of students to classrooms. We find a strong asymmetry: whereas females benefit from exposure to more female classmates as demonstrated by reduced absenteeism and improvement on math test scores, males are unaffected. We further find that exposure to more female classmates improves motivation and class participation, and, in general, that the effects of classmate gender composition are consistent with social interaction effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Borbely & Jonathan Norris & Agnese Romiti, 2023. "Peer Gender and Schooling: Evidence from Ethiopia," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 17(2), pages 207-249.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jhucap:doi:10.1086/723111
    DOI: 10.1086/723111
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    1. Getik, Demid & Meier, Armando N., 2021. "Early Socialization and the Gender Wage Gap," Working Papers 2021:13, Lund University, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I29 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Other
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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