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Gender gaps in cognitive and noncognitive skills among adolescents in India

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  • Hervé, Justine
  • Mani, Subha
  • Behrman, Jere R.
  • Nandi, Arindam
  • Lamkang, Anjana Sankhil
  • Laxminarayan, Ramanan

Abstract

Gender gaps in skills exist around the world but differ remarkably among countries. This paper uses a unique data set with more than 20,000 adolescents in rural India to explore gender gaps in cognitive and noncognitive skills. We find that boys have considerable advantages over girls on several indicators of cognitive and noncognitive skills that remains robust to a wide range of controls and specification choices. We also examine the correlates of cognitive and noncognitive outcomes, paying close attention to socioeconomic status (SES) and pro-female gender attitudes. We find a steep positive gradient in SES as well as for pro-female gender attitudes, with stronger associations between the SES gradient and skills. Further, high socioeconomic status and more pro-female gender attitudes are both strongly correlated with reducing the gender gap in cognitive and noncognitive outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Hervé, Justine & Mani, Subha & Behrman, Jere R. & Nandi, Arindam & Lamkang, Anjana Sankhil & Laxminarayan, Ramanan, 2022. "Gender gaps in cognitive and noncognitive skills among adolescents in India," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 66-97.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:193:y:2022:i:c:p:66-97
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2021.11.011
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    4. Justine Hervé & Subha Mani & Jere Behrman & Ramanan Laxminarayan, 2024. "Food Coma is Real: The Effect of Digestive Fatigue on Adolescents’ Cognitive Performance," PIER Working Paper Archive 24-011, Penn Institute for Economic Research, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania.
    5. Nandi, Arindam & Haberland, Nicole & Ngo, Thoai D., 2023. "The impact of primary schooling expansion on adult educational attainment, literacy, and health: Evidence from India’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cognitive skills; Noncognitive skills; Gender attitudes; Gender; India; Children;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • 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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