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Can provision of free school uniforms harm attendance? Evidence from Ecuador

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  • Hidalgo, Diana
  • Onofa, Mercedes
  • Oosterbeek, Hessel
  • Ponce, Juan

Abstract

To raise school participation, many programs in developing countries eliminate or reduce private contributions to education. Using data from a randomized experiment in Ecuador, we ironically find that announcing a free school uniform program had a negative impact on attendance. The school uniforms were distributed in only 63% of the schools that were told that they would get them, thus this negative impact could have been generated by creating false expectations of free distribution, or also by a sunk cost effect on those who did actually receive the uniforms.

Suggested Citation

  • Hidalgo, Diana & Onofa, Mercedes & Oosterbeek, Hessel & Ponce, Juan, 2013. "Can provision of free school uniforms harm attendance? Evidence from Ecuador," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 43-51.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:103:y:2013:i:c:p:43-51
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2012.12.006
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    Cited by:

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    2. Blandhol,Christine & Sautmann,Anja, 2021. "Gender Differences in Children's Antibiotic Use and Adherence," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9542, The World Bank.
    3. Cyril Chalendard, 2016. "Shifting-Profits through Tax Loopholes. Evidence from Ecuador," CESifo Working Paper Series 6240, CESifo.
    4. Ketel, Nadine & Linde, Jona & Oosterbeek, Hessel & van der Klaauw, Bas, 2014. "Tuition Fees as a Commitment Device," IZA Discussion Papers 7951, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Karlan, Dean S. & Linden, Leigh, 2014. "Loose Knots: Strong versus Weak Commitments to Save for Education in Uganda," Center Discussion Papers 162693, Yale University, Economic Growth Center.
    6. Bruce Wydick & Elizabeth Katz & Flor Calvo & Felipe Gutierrez & Brendan Janet, 2018. "Shoeing the Children: The Impact of the TOMS Shoe Donation Program in Rural El Salvador," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 32(3), pages 727-751.
    7. Damien de Walque & Christine Valente, 2023. "Incentivizing School Attendance in the Presence of Parent-Child Information Frictions," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 15(3), pages 256-285, August.
    8. Jose Rosero, 2012. "The ABC of Housing Strategies: Are Housing Assistance Programs Effective in Enhancing Children's Well Being?," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 12-074/3, Tinbergen Institute.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    School uniforms; School attendance; Ecuador;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education

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