Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP6363
Authors: Ritva Reinikka; Jakob Svensson
Abstract: What is the most effective way to increase primary school enrolment and student learning? We argue that innovations in governance of social services may yield the highest return since social service delivery in developing countries is often plagued by inefficiencies and corruption. We examine this hypothesis by exploiting an unusual policy experiment: A newspaper campaign in Uganda aimed at reducing capture of public funds by providing schools (parents) with information to monitor local officials' handling of a large education grant program. Combining survey and administrative data, we show that the campaign was successful, and the reduction in capture of funds had a positive effect on enrolment and student learning.
Keywords: corruption; education; newspaper campaign
JEL Codes: D73; I22; O12
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| newspaper campaign (M38) | reduce capture of public funds (H40) |
| reduce capture of public funds (H40) | increase school enrollment (I21) |
| reduce capture of public funds (H40) | improve student learning outcomes (I21) |
| newspaper campaign (M38) | increase school enrollment (I21) |
| newspaper campaign (M38) | improve student learning outcomes (I21) |
| distance to newspaper outlet (L87) | reduce capture of public funds (H40) |