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Mandatory Schooling of Girls Improved Their Children's Health: Evidence from Turkey's 1997 Education Reform

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Bahadir Dursun

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Abstract

This study examines the impact of mandatory maternal education on child health inTurkey, where a non-trivial fraction of families restricted their daughters’ schoolingdue to social and cultural barriers. The analysis employs two large data sets and exploitsa quasi-experiment involving an education reform that increased compulsoryschooling. Results show that an increase in mother’s schooling improves child healthat birth (as measured by factors such as low birthweight and premature birth) andlowers child mortality. The current study on the intergenerational benefits ofcompulsory schooling arguably provides the strongest evidence supporting theargument that mandatory female education has substantial nonpecuniary benefits interms of the health of the offspring in societies where female education is stigmatized.The implications of this research extend beyond girls’ schooling and suggest thatcompulsory human capital investments in children can correct market failures whenfamilies underinvest in their children because of social or cultural barriers.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Dursun B, Cesur R, Kelly I

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Policy Analysis and Management

Year: 2022

Volume: 41

Issue: 3

Pages: 824-858

Print publication date: 03/08/2022

Online publication date: 27/05/2022

Acceptance date: 09/03/2022

Date deposited: 10/03/2022

ISSN (print): 0276-8739

ISSN (electronic): 1520-6688

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/pam.22404

DOI: 10.1002/pam.22404

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