NOVAFRICA Seminar: Toman Barsbai, University of Bristol – Malengo: Moving to Opportunity Abroad

In our upcoming NOVAFRICA Research Seminar, we are pleased to welcome Professor Toman Barsbai, from University of Bristol, on Wednesday, 22nd April, at 11:30 AM (Lisbon time), in Room B002, at the Nova School of Business and Economics, Carcavelos campus. Who will present his paper:

“Malengo: Moving to Opportunity Abroad”

Abstract

This project evaluates the impacts of international educational migration. We partner with Malengo, an NGO that supports Ugandan students in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Germany. Admission to the Malengo program combines the returns to higher education with the returns to international migration to a high-income country, offering students a transformative opportunity to increase their incomes. At the same time, students may substantially increase their families’ incomes in Uganda by sending remittances and inspiring further educational attainment. We conduct a randomized controlled trial that exploits Malengo’s randomized admission among shortlisted applicants. In addition, we implement a randomized school-based campaign that informs secondary school students in Uganda about the Malengo program. Here, we present preliminary evidence on the short-term effects. Admission to the Malengo program raises applicants’ monthly income by more than $800 already within their first years as students in Germany. Despite the challenges of adapting to a markedly different environment, admission to the program considerably improves the subjective wellbeing of applicants and their parents in Uganda. It also leads to higher aspirations among applicants’ siblings and friends in Uganda. The school-based information campaign raises migration intentions and aspirations, but has no measurable impact on human capital investments. While the effects on aspirations fade over time, students exposed to the campaign appear to transition into the labor market more quickly.

Find out more about this and other NOVAFRICA seminars here.

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