University expansion and female adolescents’ educational attainment in Ethiopia

Although it is widely recognized that accounting for spillovers from higher education institutions is essential when formulating educational policy, research on these effects in developing countries is scarce. This study examines the spillover effects of Ethiopia's recent public university expansion program on the educational attainment of female adolescents in the surrounding areas. Employing an event study framework, the research demonstrates a positive association between the presence of a university in the neighborhood and the academic achievement of female students at lower educational levels.