Universität zu Köln

van Maarseveen, Raoul ORCID: 0009-0008-5278-8035 (2026). Urbanization and educational attainment: Evidence from Africa. Journal of Development Economics, 179. pp. 1-16. Elsevier. ISSN 0304-3878

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Abstract

[Artikel-Nr.: 103654] Despite the rapid urbanization of the developing world, little remains known about how urban migration and residency affect childhood outcomes. Using census data for 14 African countries combined with an age-at-move design, I show that childhood exposure to cities significantly increases primary school completion and literacy rates, even among children from poor urban households. Better availability of schools and lower opportunity costs of education in cities appear to be important channels to explain the positive effects. The paper thus provides evidence of a novel channel through which urban migration can promote economic development.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code van Maarseveen, Raoul UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5278-8035 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-810891
Identification Number:	10.1016/j.jdeveco.2025.103654
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Development Economics
Volume:	179
Page Range:	pp. 1-16
Number of Pages:	16
Date:	February 2026
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0304-3878
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Management, Economy and Social Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences > Economics > Macroeconomic, Financial and Economic Policy > Juniorprofessur für Economics
Subjects:	Economics
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Urban migration ; Educational attainment ; Human capital ; Developing world cities English
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/81089