The Formation of Self-Control and Prosociality: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Bangladesh

This paper analyzes the effects of a randomly assigned, classroom-based social and emotional learning program (Lions Quest Skills for Growing) on the formation of self-control and prosociality in children aged 8 to 11 in Bangladesh.

The treatment increases both outcomes by about 10% of a standard deviation. Implementing the same program in grades 2 to 5 allows investigating sensitive periods in the formation of socio-emotional skills through treatment effect heterogeneity across grades. For self-control, we find that younger children benefit most, while the effect sizes are rather stable across grades for prosociality. Interestingly, we find evidence for spillover effects on parents’ self-control and prosociality.

Paper written by: Hannah Schildberg-Hörisch (HHU Düsseldorf) Laura Breitkopf (HHU Düsseldorf) Shyamal Chowdhury (University of Sydney) Daniel Kamhöfer (HHU Düsseldorf) Matthias Sutter (MPI Collective Goods)

Speaker: Hannah Schildberg-Hörisch is professor at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

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