School Meals as a Safety Net: An Evaluation of the Midday Meal Scheme in India

40 Pages Posted: 28 Sep 2012

See all articles by Stefan Dercon

Stefan Dercon

University of Oxford - Department of Economics

Albert Park

Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST); Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) - HKUST Institute for Emerging Market Studies (IEMS)

Abhijeet Singh

University of Oxford; University of Oxford

Date Written: June 2012

Abstract

Despite the popularity of school meals, little evidence exists on their effect on health outcomes. This study uses newly available longitudinal data from the state of Andhra Pradesh in India to estimate the impact of the introduction of a national midday meal program on anthropometric z-scores of primary school students, and investigates whether the program ameliorated the deterioration of health in young children caused by a severe drought. Correcting for self-selection into the program using a non-linearity in how age affects the probability of enrolment, we find that the program acted as a safety net for children, providing large and significant health gains for children whose families suffered from drought.

Keywords: health, India, nutrition, school meals

JEL Classification: I12, J13, O12, O15

Suggested Citation

Dercon, Stefan and Park, Albert and Singh, Abhijeet, School Meals as a Safety Net: An Evaluation of the Midday Meal Scheme in India (June 2012). CEPR Discussion Paper No. DP9031, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2153463

Stefan Dercon (Contact Author)

University of Oxford - Department of Economics ( email )

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Albert Park

Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) ( email )

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Hong Kong

Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) - HKUST Institute for Emerging Market Studies (IEMS) ( email )

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Hong Kong

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Abhijeet Singh

University of Oxford ( email )

Nuffield College
New Road
Oxford, OX1 1NF
United Kingdom

University of Oxford ( email )

OX1 1DW
Oxford
United Kingdom

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