AEA Papers and Proceedings
ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)
Beyond the Campus: Indirect Effects of University Openings in Uganda
AEA Papers and Proceedings
(pp. 201–205)
Abstract
Over the last two decades, the number of higher education institutions in low- and middle-income countries has grown rapidly. In this paper we study how the opening of a university affects employment and education outcomes in small cities across Uganda. We find that the first opening of a college or university leads to shifts in employment away from agriculture and toward services. We also find improvements in secondary school completion and literacy among local youth. These patterns suggest that expanding the higher education sector acts as a form of place-based investment that has short-term benefits for nearby communities.Citation
Lallemant, Tess, and Brian Dillon. 2026. "Beyond the Campus: Indirect Effects of University Openings in Uganda." AEA Papers and Proceedings 116: 201–205. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20261031Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- I23 Higher Education; Research Institutions
- I26 Returns to Education
- J23 Labor Demand
- J24 Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
- O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
- O18 Economic Development: Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure