Fighting corruption to improve schooling: evidence from a newspaper campaign in Uganda

What are the most effective ways to increase primary school enrolment and student learning? This paper argues that innovations in governance of social services may yield the highest return since social service delivery in developing countries is often plagued by inefficiencies and corruption. It illustrates this by using data from an unusual policy experiment: namely, a newspaper campaign in Uganda aimed at reducing capture of public funds by providing schools (and parents) with information to monitor local officials' handling of a large education grant programme. The campaign was highly successful and the reduction in capture had a positive effect on enrolment and student learning.