Nazmul Ahsan
@nazmul-ahsan-econ.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Economics, WashU
Evidence from the matrilineal tribe of West Sumatra (Minangkabau) confirms the fundamental role of gender norms, where boys were crowded out, not girls! This highlights that educational policies must consider potential bottlenecks & social norms for equitable outcomes. Paper: tinyurl.com/3s6sn6xy
Public Primary School Expansion, Gender-based Crowding Out, and Intergenerational Educational Mobility
Using full-count census data from Indonesia and a difference-in-difference design, we analyze the effects of primary school expansion on intergenerational educa
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August 3, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Evidence from the matrilineal tribe of West Sumatra (Minangkabau) confirms the fundamental role of gender norms, where boys were crowded out, not girls! This highlights that educational policies must consider potential bottlenecks & social norms for equitable outcomes. Paper: tinyurl.com/3s6sn6xy
Facing the bottleneck, boys crowded out girls at the secondary level, irrespective of a girl’s family background. Labor market returns don't explain this. Instead, we find strong evidence that #SocialNorms, specifically son preference in a patrilineal society, drives this crowding out.
August 3, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Facing the bottleneck, boys crowded out girls at the secondary level, irrespective of a girl’s family background. Labor market returns don't explain this. Instead, we find strong evidence that #SocialNorms, specifically son preference in a patrilineal society, drives this crowding out.
A puzzling gender gap emerged: While girls saw significant impacts on primary completion, there were no impacts on their overall years of schooling and educational mobility. Why? The surge of primary graduates created an unintended bottleneck at the secondary level, with limited high school slots.
August 3, 2025 at 4:34 AM
A puzzling gender gap emerged: While girls saw significant impacts on primary completion, there were no impacts on their overall years of schooling and educational mobility. Why? The surge of primary graduates created an unintended bottleneck at the secondary level, with limited high school slots.
The traditional linear mobility model (incorrectly) concludes that mobility improved for all sons. The correct quadratic model reveals a nuanced picture: School expansion improved mobility for sons from low-educated households, but reduced it for sons from highly educated families.
August 3, 2025 at 4:34 AM
The traditional linear mobility model (incorrectly) concludes that mobility improved for all sons. The correct quadratic model reveals a nuanced picture: School expansion improved mobility for sons from low-educated households, but reduced it for sons from highly educated families.