Denison University’s Global Studies Seminar offers its first lecture of the academic year, “Does Financial Reward to Students Improve their Academic Achievement? – A Study from Nepal,” by Dhiraj Sharma of Ohio State University at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 27, in the Shepherdson Room, on the fourth floor of Slayter Hall (200 Ridge Road). The event is free and open to the public.

Due to sustained national and international effort, access to schooling in developing countries has increased significantly in the previous decades, and the proportion of school-age children who are out of school has dropped. However, school quality and students’ learning levels in the least developed countries remain low.

The standard theory states that policies to improve school quality and student performance should be designed to target incentives for schools and teachers. Sharma, however, argues that providing financial incentives to students might be a more effective strategy. He conducted a randomized trial in Nepal public schools based on this theory, and will discuss his study and conclusions.

Sharma’s research revolves around issues of economic development, academic achievement in developing countries, and the socioeconomic impact of solar home systems.