Time-saving appliances and educational pitfalls: Evidence from Pakistan

This study examines the impact of access to time-saving appliances (TSA) on children's educational outcomes in rural Pakistan, with a particular focus on school retention, which reflects students' ability to remain enrolled and progress through the education system. Using village-level ownership in households without school-aged children as an instrument, this study identifies a causal link between time-saving appliances (TSA) ownership –specifically refrigerators and washing machines – and improved school retention among children. Our findings indicate that owning TSAs reduces overall dropout rates by 17 percentage points and increases years of schooling by 1.62 years. These effects are significantly stronger for girls, whose dropout rates decline by 43 percentage points, while their years of schooling increase by 2.76 years. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis reveals that the effects are strongest in households where parental educational aspirations exceed the median. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to enhance educational retention and address gender disparities in Pakistan's education system.