Publication: Building Entrepreneurial Mind-Sets: Evidence from a Large-Scale Educational Intervention in India
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Published
2025-05-30
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2025-05-30
Author(s)
Amaral, Sofia
Bhalothia, Aakash
Chaurey, Ritam
Khanna, Gaurav
Malik, Samreen
Mukhopadhyay, Abhiroop
Prakash, Nishith
Rakesh, Raghav
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Abstract
India faces high youth disengagement and a persistent gender gap in entrepreneurship. To address these challenges, the state of Andhra Pradesh piloted the Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Program (EMDP), a 50-hour school-based curriculum delivered to Grade 9 students. The intention of the government was to improve the employability of the youth and educate students to learn to get along and get ahead in life - as described by implementing partners. Results from a large-scale randomized evaluation show that the program strengthened students’ agency, improved financial literacy and academic outcomes—especially for girls—and fostered more gender-equitable classroom dynamics. Female students also demonstrated higher-quality entrepreneurial pitches and greater investor interest. The program has low implementation costs and therefore it offers a scalable pathway to equip young people—particularly young women—with the skills and confidence needed to pursue education, employment, and enterprise.
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“Amaral, Sofia; Bhalothia, Aakash; Chaurey, Ritam; Gaddis, Isis; Khanna, Gaurav; Malik, Samreen; Mukhopadhyay, Abhiroop; Prakash, Nishith; Rakesh, Raghav. 2025. Building Entrepreneurial Mind-Sets: Evidence from a Large-Scale Educational Intervention in India. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/43264 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
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