The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recently released a report that cites “Empowering Women Through Education: Evidence from Sierra Leone,” the work of Belmont Assistant Professor of Economics Colin Cannonier and colleague Naci Mocan. The report is titled “Teaching and Learning: Achieving Quality for All,” and their work was highlighted in the report’s third chapter, Schooling Can Save the Planet: Higher levels of education lead to more concern for the environment.
Cannonier and Mocan issued their working paper through the National Bureau of Economic Research in April 2012. NBER working papers are circulated for discussion and comment purposes. They have not been peer-reviewed or been subject to the review by the NBER Board of Directors that accompanies official NBER publications. In their paper, Mocan and Cannonier used data from Sierra Leone “where a substantial education program provided increased access to education for primary-school age children but did not benefit children who were older.” They found that the program has increased educational attainment and that an increase in education has changed women’s preferences and had an impact on their attitudes toward matters that impact women’s health and violence against women.
