What Explains the Gender Gap in Private School Enrolment? Recent Evidence from India
67 Pages Posted: 15 Oct 2015
Date Written: October 31, 2014
Abstract
The paper provides new evidence that there is significant gender gap in private school enrollment in India and that the gender gap is greater than the national average among children residing in northern and north-western states. Our best estimates come from the household fixed effects model with selection that exploits the within household variation in private school enrollment among 7-18 year old boys and girls born to the same parents, after correcting for the possible selection bias arising from any school enrollment. A further investigation into the causes of gender gap in private school enrollment does not identify any significant positive effect of perceived ability of children, but possible negative effect of child health. Further, mother’s education is an important household characteristic that significantly boosts private school attendance among girls. We also identify interesting variation of our central results across primary and secondary age groups and also across regions and argue that these results highlight a rational choice of parents aiming to maximise future earnings prospects.
Keywords: Private school enrolment, Gender gap, Household fixed effects model, Fixed effects estimates with selection correction, India
JEL Classification: C21, I25, O10
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation