Reforms, Growth and Persistence of Gender Gap: Recent Evidence from Private School Enrollment in India

45 Pages Posted: 28 Nov 2011

See all articles by Pushkar Maitra

Pushkar Maitra

Monash University - Department of Economics

Sarmistha Pal

University of Surrey; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Anurag Sharma

Monash University - Centre for Health Economics

Abstract

This paper examines the extent of gender gap in private school enrolment in India, an issue that has not been adequately addressed previously. Results based on individual level unit record data shows that a girl is less likely to be sent to private schools holding other factors constant and controlling for selection into school enrollment, and this disadvantage is particularly higher for younger girls in the family. The extent of gender bias in private school enrolment is double that of overall enrollment. Additionally, irrespective of policy reforms and overall economic growth, female disadvantage in rural private school enrolment appears to have increased over the decade 1993-94 to 2004-05. This can partly be attributed to the declining agricultural output as well as labour force participation rates among rural women over much of this period. Our results have important policy implications at a time when policy makers are eager to explore a potential role for private sector in delivering basic education.

Keywords: policy reforms, economic growth, private school choice, gender gap, India

JEL Classification: I25, O10, C21

Suggested Citation

Maitra, Pushkar and Pal, Sarmistha and Sharma, Anurag, Reforms, Growth and Persistence of Gender Gap: Recent Evidence from Private School Enrollment in India. IZA Discussion Paper No. 6135, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1965152 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1965152

Pushkar Maitra (Contact Author)

Monash University - Department of Economics ( email )

Wellington Road
Clayton, Victoria 3
Australia
61 3 9905 5832 (Phone)
61 3 9905 5476 (Fax)

Sarmistha Pal

University of Surrey ( email )

Stag Hill
Guildford, England GU2 7XH
United Kingdom
01483 683995 (Phone)

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Anurag Sharma

Monash University - Centre for Health Economics ( email )

Building 75
Clayton
Melbourne, VIC 3800
Australia
61 3 99050519 (Phone)

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