Incentives to Learn

We report results from a randomized evaluation of a merit scholarship program for adolescent girls in Kenya. Girls who scored well on academic exams received a cash grant and had school fees paid. Girls eligible for the scholarship showed significant gains in academic exam scores (average gain 0.15 standard deviations). There was considerable sample attrition and no significant program impacts in the smaller of the two program districts, but in the other district girls showed large gains (average gain 0.22-0.27 s.d.), and these gains persisted one full year following the competition. There is also evidence of positive program externalities on