RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Access to Colleges, Human Capital, and Empowerment of Women
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 0620-10948R4
DO 10.3368/jhr.0620-10948R4
A1 Sheetal Sekhri
A1 Md Amzad Hossain
A1 Pooja Khosla
YR 2022
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2022/03/01/jhr.0620-10948R4.abstract
AB Women’s enrollment in colleges in developing countries is staggeringly low. Due to cultural norms and safety concerns, women may not be allowed to enroll. Alternatively, local colleges might be in short supply. Using the variation in college construction in India under a college construction grant policy, we assess whether increased access to colleges in home districts improves human capital outcomes for women. We find an improvement in educational and other development outcomes. The educational gains accruing to women are twice as large as men. The benefits accrue to the rural women but do not spillover to the neighboring districts.