Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction Motivation
Background
Cycling to School: Increasing High School Enrollment for Girls in Bihar
Policy Goals
Empirical Strategy Methodology
Data Data
Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash
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University of California-San Diego & Cornell University
September 19, 2011 / IGC Growth Week - LSE
Motivation I
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Increasing school attainment of girls is one of the Millennium Development Goals Improving female education directly contributes to “Inclusive Growth”: I
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Growth - by increasing human capital of labor force Inclusive - by allowing people to participate in the growth process
Returns to schooling is approximately 7-10% in India (Duraisamy, 2000; Agrawal, 2011) Despite high economic returns to education in developing countries, there are: I I I
Low school completion rates High drop-out rates Students absenteeism
Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction Motivation
Background Policy Goals
Empirical Strategy Methodology
Data Data
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Education in Bihar
Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction Motivation
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Large gender gap in schooling in developing countries (for e.g. enrollment, attendance, attainment, dropout etc.)
Background Policy Goals
Empirical Strategy
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In rural Bihar, currently 63% girls are enrolled against 81% boys in the age category 10–14. For the age category 15–19, only 27% girls are admitted against 40% boys (Azam, 2011)
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In urban Bihar, currently 81% girls are enrolled against 86% boys in the age category 10–14. For the age category 15–19, only 55% girls are admitted against 57% boys (Azam, 2011)
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Low attendance and attainment among girls in Bihar
Methodology
Data Data
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Policy Intervention
Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction Motivation
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In April 2006, the Government of Bihar headed by the Chief Minister Mr. Nitish Kumar decided to provide bicycles to all girl students studying in Class IX & X Approximately Rs. 2000 (45 USD) per girl student was allocated to purchase bicycles This scheme was called “Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana” and later “Mukhyamantri Cycle Yojana” I
Policy Questions I I
Does Cycle Scheme increase girls enrollment? Does Cycle Scheme affect learning outcomes?
Background Policy Goals
Empirical Strategy Methodology
Data Data
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Policy Intervention
Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction Motivation
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In April 2006, the Government of Bihar headed by the Chief Minister Mr. Nitish Kumar decided to provide bicycles to all girl students studying in Class IX & X Approximately Rs. 2000 (45 USD) per girl student was allocated to purchase bicycles This scheme was called “Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana” and later “Mukhyamantri Cycle Yojana” I
Policy Questions I I
Does Cycle Scheme increase girls enrollment? Does Cycle Scheme affect learning outcomes?
Background Policy Goals
Empirical Strategy Methodology
Data Data
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Outcome Measures
Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction
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Enrollment I I
Does this reduce gender inequality? Does this reduce gap across caste and religion?
Motivation
Background Policy Goals
Empirical Strategy
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Learning outcomes (for e.g. share of students passing 10th grade, passing with 3rd division, 2nd division, 1st division, distinction) I
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Increased enrollment may reduce mean scores, but may increase absolute number of girls at higher levels of attainment
Possibility of a follow-up survey: I
Female EmpowermentI
Use of bicycles has been considered a sign of self-confidence and empowerment in India
Methodology
Data Data
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Difference in Difference Approach
Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction Motivation
Background Policy
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Difference in Difference Approach:
Goals
I Single Difference = [(Enroll)Girls − (Enroll)Girls ] Post Pre I D-D Bihar = A = [(Enroll)Girls − (Enroll)Girls ] − [(Enroll)Boys − (Enroll)Boys ] Post Pre Post Pre I This will control for changes in income, tastes and government policies that was targeted towards school going children
Empirical Strategy Methodology
Data Data
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Triple Difference Approach: I D-D Jharkhand = B = I D-D-D = [A - B]
[(Enroll)Girls Post
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(Enroll)Girls Pre ]
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Boys [(Enroll)Post
−
Boys (Enroll)Pre ]
I This will control for remaining bias from differential time trend I Jharkhand is particularly compelling as it was part of Bihar till 2000 I Boarder districts share similar socio-economic conditions
Map of Bihar
Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction Motivation
Background Policy Goals
Empirical Strategy Methodology
Data Data
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Difference in Difference Design I
Start with D-D type strategy
Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction Motivation
Background Policy Goals
Empirical Strategy Methodology
Data Data
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Enrollment - Boys
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Enrollment/Test Scores
B IMPACT A
Comparison group trend Enrollment-Girls
Pre- Cycle Scheme
Post- Cycle Scheme
Year = 2006/07
Year = 2009/10
Enrollment in Bihar: Class 9
Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction Motivation
Background Policy Goals
Empirical Strategy Methodology
Data Data
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240,000 220,000
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200,000 180,000 Enrollment
160,000 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
Enrollment (Class 9) Boys
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
Enrollment (Class 9) Girls
2008-09
2009-10
Enrollment in Bihar: Class 10
Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction Motivation
Background Policy Goals
Empirical Strategy Methodology
Data Data 200,000
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180,000
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160,000
Enrollment
140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
Enrollment (Class 10) Boys
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
Enrollment (Class 10) Girls
2009-10
Enrollment in Bihar & Jharkhand: Class 9
Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction Motivation
Background Policy Goals
240,000
Empirical Strategy
220,000
Methodology
200,000 180,000
Data
Enrollment
160,000
Data
140,000
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120,000
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100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
Enrollment (Class 9) Boys_JH
Enrollment (Class 9) Girls_JH
Enrollment (Class 9) Boys_Bihar
Enrollment (Class 9) Girls_Bihar
2008-09
2009-10
Enrollment in Bihar & Jharkhand: Class 10
Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction Motivation
Background Policy
200,000
Goals
180,000
Empirical Strategy 160,000
Methodology
Enrollment
140,000
Data Data
120,000
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100,000
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80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
Enrollment (Class 10) Boys_JH
Enrollment (Class 10) Girls_JH
Enrollment (Class 10) Boys_Bihar
Enrollment (Class 10) Girls_Bihar
2009-10
Data work so far I
Ministry of HRD, Government of Bihar I
We have enrollment data for class 9 and 10 from 26 districts (2 incomplete) in Bihar, and 9 districts (3 incomplete) in Jharkhand from 2002/03 to 2009/10 I
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District names in Bihar that have not sent data: Aurangabad, Begusarai, Bhojpur, Gopalganj, Khagaria, Kaimur, Lakhisarai, Patna, Purnea, Muzaffarpur, Saran, Siwan District names in Bihar with incomplete data: Vaishali, Dharbhanga District names in Jharkhand with incomplete data: Sahibganj, Palamu, Godda
Examination Board Data from Bihar and Jharkhand I
Detailed test scores data at individual level, school level, and district level from 2004 to 2010
Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction Motivation
Background Policy Goals
Empirical Strategy Methodology
Data Data
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Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash Introduction Motivation
Background Policy Goals
Empirical Strategy
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We are grateful to the IGC-Bihar for providing financial support We are grateful to Government of Bihar and especially Ministry of HRD without whom we could not have started this project
Methodology
Data Data
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