What Criteria Should Policy-makers Use for Assisting Households with Educational Expenditure?

Low household expenditure on education compromises the learning and future labour market prospects of children. This study provides an empirical framework for determining the criteria that South Asian policy-makers can use for assisting households with educational expenditure. A case study of urban Bangladesh using tobit and hurdle regression models indicate that households in the bottom two per capita quartiles should receive priority as recipients of policy assistance. Other criteria include households with parents who have not completed primary schooling and households with boys, older children and multiple children of school-going age.