Working Paper: NBER ID: w22528
Authors: Sujata Visaria; Rajeev Dehejia; Melody M. Chao; Anirban Mukhopadhyay
Abstract: In an experiment in non-formal schools in Indian slums, a reward scheme for attending a target number of school days increased average attendance when the scheme was in place, but had heterogeneous effects after it was removed. Among students with high baseline attendance, the incentive had no effect on attendance after it was discontinued, and test scores were unaffected. Among students with low baseline attendance, the incentive lowered post-incentive attendance, and test scores decreased. For these students, the incentive was also associated with lower interest in school material and lower optimism and confidence about their ability. This suggests incentives might have unintended long-term consequences for the very students they are designed to help the most.
Keywords: student attendance; incentives; field experiment; education; India
JEL Codes: I21; I25; O15
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Attendance after incentive removal (J65) | Test scores for low baseline attenders (I24) |
| Incentive scheme (J33) | Attendance after incentive removal (J65) |
| Incentive scheme (J33) | Attendance during incentive period (M52) |
| Incentive scheme (J33) | Attendance after incentive removal (J65) |
| Incentive scheme (J33) | Test scores for low baseline attenders (I24) |