Good governance and educational outcomes: evidence from the Aspirational Districts Programme in India

Domingo Enrich, Emma; Kurup, Aditya; Puccio, Giacomo; Varela, Joana

Good governance and educational outcomes: evidence from the Aspirational Districts Programme in India

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Domingo Enrich, E, Kurup, A, Puccio, G, Varela, J. Good governance and educational outcomes: evidence from the Aspirational Districts Programme in India. 2025. handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10230/71609

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Abstract

We examine whether India’s Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP), a governance initiative aimed at underdeveloped districts, improved the educational outcomes of rural children. Using a difference-in-differences approach with Propensity Score Matching, we estimate the programme’s causal effect on enrolment, reading, and math proficiency. Our findings indicate that ADP significantly increased school enrolment across age groups but did not improve learning outcomes. Further analysis suggests gains in material conditions may have supported higher enrolment but did not translate into improved household inputs relevant to learning. Moreover, we provide suggestive evidence that a commensurate increase in schooling inputs did not accompany the increase in enrolment.
Examinamos si el Programa de Distritos Aspiracionales (ADP) de la India, una iniciativa de gobernanza orientada a distritos subdesarrollados, mejoró los resultados educativos de los estudiantes rurales. Mediante un enfoque de difference-in-differences con Propensity Score Matching, estimamos el efecto causal del programa sobre la matriculación escolar, así como la competencia en lectura y matemáticas. Nuestros resultados indican que, si bien el ADP aumentó significativamente la matriculación escolar en todos los grupos de edad, no mejoró los resultados de aprendizaje. Un análisis adicional sugiere que las mejoras en las condiciones materiales pudieron haber impulsado la matriculación, pero no se tradujeron en mayores aportes educativos en el hogar. Además, ofrecemos evidencia indicativa de que el aumento en la matriculación no fue acompañado por un incremento proporcional en los insumos escolares.

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Treball fi de màster de: Master's Degree in Specialized Economic Analysis: Economics of Public Policy Program. Curs 2024-2025
Tutors: Ada Ferrer-i-Carbonell; Joan Llull