Reproducibility package for A “Big Push” Through The Finish Line: Evidence From A Composite Scholarship For Ugandan Students
Overview
Secondary school completion in sub-Saharan Africa is the lowest in the world. Given the multiple constraints households face, the scope of purely demand-side interventions to narrow the completion gap may be large. We quantify it by studying how joinly relaxing key demand-side constraints affects learning, graduation, and the labor market entry of talented and economically disadvantaged students in Uganda. We randomize access to a "big push'' scholarship program covering fees, school placement school inputs, and a cash transfer equivalent to 50% of the adult wage. The program raises test scores and pushes completion rates to high-income country levels; it halves fertility and increases women's labor market entry. Students' families of oigin also benefit by becoming wealthier and happier. Our results show relaxing demand-side constraints benefits students and doubles-up as an antipoverty intervention for their households.
Reproducibility Package
| Repository name | URI |
|---|---|
| Reproducible Research Repository (World Bank) | https://reproducibility.worldbank.org |
Reproducibility
Paper exhibits were reproduced on a computer with the following specifications:
– Windows 11 Enterprise, version 22H2
– Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) Ultra 7 165U, 2100 Mhz, 12 Core(s), 14 Logical Processor(s)
– Memory available: 32 GB
– Software version: Stata 18.0 MP
Runtime: 1 hour
To reproduce the findings in this package once the data embargo is lifted, please follow the steps below:
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Open the Project MasterDofile file. Update the file paths to match your local environment. You can refer to the folder structure file included in the reproducibility package to understand the expected folder structure for the data, once it becomes available.
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Once the data is in place, run the code using Stata. This will generate all relevant figures and outputs.
In the meantime, we have included the outputs from the replicator’s run of the code. These are provided so users can review the figures and compare them with those published in the paper.
Data
All data is temporarily embargoed by the authors (expected to be made public in the future).
Description
| Author | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Benedetta Lerva | World Bank | blerva@worldbank.org |
| Denise Ferris | Independent Consultant | denise.ferris@me.com |
| Margherita Fornasari | World Bank | mfornasari@worldbank.org |
2025-04-29
Scope and coverage
| Location | Code |
|---|---|
| Uganda | UGA |
Disclaimer
The materials in the reproducibility packages are distributed as they were prepared by the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this event do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank, the Executive Directors of the World Bank, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the materials included in the reproducibility package.
Access and rights
| Name | URI |
|---|---|
| Modified BSD3 | https://opensource.org/license/bsd-3-clause/ |
Contacts
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Benedetta Lerva | World Bank | blerva@worldbank.org |
| Reproducibility WBG | World Bank | reproducibility@worldbank.org |
Information on metadata
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reproducibility WBG | DIME | World Bank - Development Impact Department | Verification and preparation of metadata |
2025-04-29
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