TRANSFER PAYMENTS AND UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL OUTCOMES: THE CASE OF LOW-INCOME FEMALE STUDENTS IN THAILAND

摘要

This study assesses the impact of cash transfers to low-income female Thai students on improving upper secondary school outcomes, as measured by grade point average (GPA) and transition to tertiary education. Utilizing official records from a charity organization providing substantial cash transfers to secondary students and student records from participating schools, we find the transfers have no effect on improving recipients' GPAs compared to non-recipients. However, the scholarship recipients are 22% more likely to transition to university education than non-recipients and the presence of scholarship recipients in the classroom increases the likelihood of female non-recipients to attend university.