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

Please note that the seminar will take place via Microsoft Teams. If you like to participate in the seminar, please send an email beforehand to: jan.priebe@giga-hamburg.de. Upon registration you will receive an email invite including the Microsoft Teams link.