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A ‘smart buy' for all? Unequal and unintended consequences of a messaging program for child education

Author

Listed:
  • Elisabetta Aurino

    (University of Barcelona, IEB)

  • Sharon Wolf

    (University of Pennsylvania)

Abstract

Through a large-scale household-randomized trial, we document divergent and unintended effects of a SMS-nudge parenting intervention in Ghana. For parents with some exposure to formal schooling, the program supported parental education engagement, child school participation and social-emotional skills. Conversely, for parents with no schooling, the program backfired, exacerbating educational inequality. Messages also lowered parental selfefficacy, educational aspirations, and the perceived importance of regular school attendance among parents with no schooling. As light-touch, low-tech strategies integrate into education systems to combat the global learning crisis, these findings caution against potential unintended and distributional consequences, particularly in rural, low-literacy contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisabetta Aurino & Sharon Wolf, 2024. "A ‘smart buy' for all? Unequal and unintended consequences of a messaging program for child education," UB School of Economics Working Papers 2024/461, University of Barcelona School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ewp:wpaper:461web
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/205763
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Richard Akresh & Damien de Walque & Harounan Kazianga & Abigail Stocker, 2025. "Medium-Term Impacts of Integrated Social Safety Nets: Cash Transfers, Information Meetings, and Home Visits for Child Development," NBER Working Papers 34578, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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