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Incentives to Learn

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Kremer
  • Edward Miguel
  • Rebecca Thornton

Abstract

We report results from a randomized evaluation of a merit scholarship program for adolescent girls in Kenya. Girls who scored well on academic exams had their school fees paid and received a cash grant for school supplies. Girls eligible for the scholarship showed significant gains in academic exam scores (average gain 0.12-0.19 standard deviations) and these gains persisted following the competition. There is also evidence of positive program externalities on learning: boys, who were ineligible for the awards, also showed sizeable average test gains, as did girls with low pretest scores, who were unlikely to win. Both student and teacher school attendance increased in the program schools. We discuss implications both for understanding the nature of educational production functions and for the policy debate surrounding merit scholarships.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Kremer & Edward Miguel & Rebecca Thornton, 2004. "Incentives to Learn," CID Working Papers 109, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    • Handle: RePEc:cid:wpfacu:109
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    merit scholarships; randomized evaluation; human capital spillovers; Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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