Geographic isolation and learning: Evidence from rural schools in Colombia

Leonardo Bonilla-Mejía, Erika Londoño-Ortega and María Fernanda Henao

Economics of Education Review, 2024, vol. 99, issue C

Abstract: Rural schools are usually behind in terms of learning, and this could be partly related to geographical isolation. We explore this hypothesis, assessing the causal effect of the distance between schools, towns, and State capitals on elementary school test scores. We use granular administrative records from Colombia and estimate spatial regression discontinuity models. Results indicate that the distance to both towns and State capitals negatively affect students test scores. The differences in educational inputs, such as teachers education attainment and contract stability, partly explain these gaps. A program providing monetary incentives to teachers in difficult access areas fails to attenuate the isolation effect.

Keywords: Geographic isolation; Education; Rural schools; Learning; Colombia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H75 I21 I24 R10 R12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:99:y:2024:i:c:s0272775724000165

DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2024.102522

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