Publication:
Assessing Opportunities for Solar Lanterns to Improve Educational Outcomes in Off-Grid Rural Areas: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Simple item page
creativeworkseries.issn1564-698X
dc.contributor.authorStojanovski, Ognen
dc.contributor.authorThurber, Mark C.
dc.contributor.authorWolak, Frank A.
dc.contributor.authorMuwowo, George
dc.contributor.authorHarrison, Kat
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-04T19:42:04Z
dc.date.available2024-01-04T19:42:04Z
dc.date.issued2021-02-26
dc.description.abstractSolar lanterns are promoted across rural Sub-Saharan Africa as a way to improve educational outcomes. A randomized controlled trial in Zimba District, Zambia, evaluates whether solar lanterns help children study and improve academic performance. The research design accounts for potential income effects from receiving a lantern and also “blinds” participants to the study's purpose. There is no relationship detected between receipt of a solar lantern and improved performance on key examinations. Impacts on self-reported study habits are also not observed. A cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that solar lanterns are not an efficient way to improve educational outcomes in developing countries relative to other available options. Two phenomena, both of which are likely observed in other developing regions, may explain these results. First, flashlights have become the dominant lighting source in rural Zambia, so solar lanterns may have only limited appeal for prospective users who no longer rely on traditional lighting options like kerosene lamps. Second, improved energy access – whether through solar lanterns or other technologies – appears to be a relatively unimportant educational input in settings like Zimba.en
dc.identifier.citationThe World Bank Economic Review
dc.identifier.doi10.1596/40839
dc.identifier.issn0258-6770 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1564-698X (online)
dc.identifier.urihttps://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/40839
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherPublished by Oxford University Press on behalf of the World Bank
dc.relation.ispartofseriesWorld Bank Economic Review
dc.rightsCC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO
dc.rights.holderWorld Bank
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo/
dc.subjectENERGY ACCESS
dc.subjectEDUCATION
dc.subjectSOLAR LAMPS
dc.subjectRANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
dc.subjectZAMBIA
dc.titleAssessing Opportunities for Solar Lanterns to Improve Educational Outcomes in Off-Grid Rural Areasen
dc.title.subtitleResults from a Randomized Controlled Trialen
dc.typeJournal Article
dspace.entity.typePublication
okr.associatedcontenthttps://academic.oup.com/wber/article/35/4/999/6151490 Journal website (version of record)
okr.crossref.titleAssessing Opportunities for Solar Lanterns to Improve Educational Outcomes in Off-Grid Rural Areas: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial
okr.date.disclosure2021-02-26
okr.doctypePublications & Research
okr.doctypePublications & Research::Journal Article
okr.identifier.doidoi.org/10.1093/wber/lhab002
okr.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1596/40839
okr.language.supporteden
okr.pagenumber999–1018
okr.peerreviewAcademic Peer Review
okr.region.administrativeAfrica
okr.region.countryZambia
okr.topicEnergy::Solar Energy
okr.topicEducation::Education Indicators and Statistics
okr.volume35 (4)
relation.isJournalIssueOfPublication455cced1-cae6-4923-b253-a7db178b26c2
relation.isJournalIssueOfPublication.latestForDiscovery455cced1-cae6-4923-b253-a7db178b26c2
relation.isJournalOfPublicationc41eae2f-cf94-449d-86b7-f062aebe893f
relation.isJournalVolumeOfPublication3a13adfa-b971-4f6d-9aaa-21ba96efc218
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
lhab002.pdf
Size:
867.35 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles