Séminaires LEMMA

"Learning Through Living Rooms Screens: Experimental Evidence from Kenya"

Nicolas BOTTAN (Cornell University)

FRIDAY, 10 October 2025, 11h-12h

Lemma - 4 rue Blaise Desgoffe, 75006 Paris. Salle Maurice Desplas

Nicolas is an assistant professor in economics at Cornell. His research interests are in the fields of Public, Behavioral and Development Economics.

Abstract : We present experimental evidence on the effects of over-the-air educational TV on literacy and socio-emotional skills. In a randomized encouragement design with 4,300 Kenyan children, watching a literacy-focused show increased reading comprehension by 9% and curiosity by 12% of a standard deviation, with stronger effects among English-speaking households. Studying mechanisms, we find that the effects are driven by the show's content itself, not by changes in time use, preferences, or parental inputs. However, the program inadvertently reinforced traditional gender norms. At $18.48 per standard deviation, it is highly cost-effective. Results highlight both the promise and limits for educational media.

"Impact of Physician Practice Closure on Patients' Healthcare access and use"

ELSA PERDRIX (Paris Dauphine University, LEDa)

Mardi 23 septembre 2025, 11h-12h

Lemma - 4 rue Blaise Desgoffe, 75006 Paris. Salle Maurice Desplas

Elsa is an associate professor in economics at Paris Dauphine University, LEDa. Her research fields are health economics and public policies. She focuses on issues related to retirement and health, long term care needs associated with an ageing population.