The Impact of South Africa’s Child Support Grant on Schooling and Learning

38 Pages Posted: 12 Sep 2012

See all articles by Carolyn Heinrich

Carolyn Heinrich

University of Texas at Austin; Vanderbilt University

John Hoddinott

Cornell University - Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management

Michael J. Samson

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: September 11, 2012

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of South Africa’s Child Support Grant (CSG) on the schooling and learning attainments of children. Children who were enrolled in the CSG at birth completed 0.14 more grades of schooling than children who were enrolled at age six. There are marked gender differences. Early CSG enrollment improves girls’ grade attainment and their scores on tests of mathematical ability and reading. There are no impacts on boys’ schooling or learning. The CSG plays a compensatory role in narrowing the grade attainment gap between children whose mothers have not completed primary school and mothers with at least some secondary education. This occurs because early receipt of CSG reduces the likelihood that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to enroll late.

Keywords: South Africa, Child Support Grant, schooling, test scores

JEL Classification: I38, I21, O15

Suggested Citation

Heinrich, Carolyn and Heinrich, Carolyn and Hoddinott, John and Samson, Michael J., The Impact of South Africa’s Child Support Grant on Schooling and Learning (September 11, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2144975 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2144975

Carolyn Heinrich

University of Texas at Austin ( email )

2315 Red River St.
Austin, TX 78713
United States
512-471-3200 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/directory/faculty/carolyn-heinrich

Vanderbilt University ( email )

2301 Vanderbilt Place
Nashville, TN 37240
United States
615-322-1169 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/bio/carolyn-heinrich

John Hoddinott (Contact Author)

Cornell University - Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management ( email )

Ithaca, NY
United States

Michael J. Samson

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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