All You Need is Cable TV?. Issue 5 (4th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Iversen, Vegard; Palmer-Jones, Richard
• Is Part Of: Journal of development studies. Volume 55:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 946
• Page End: 966
• Publication Date: 2019-05-04
• Subjects: Economic development -- Periodicals; Economic history -- 1945- -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Développement économique -- Périodiques; Histoire économique -- 1945- -- Périodiques; Pays en voie de développement -- Conditions économiques -- Périodiques; 338.91
• DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2018.1506581
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0388

Abstract

Abstract: Robert Jensen and Emily Oster find that arrival of cable TV in rural India reduces women's tolerance of spousal violence, son preference and fertility, and increases women's autonomy, and school enrolment. These results are mostly replicated using their data and code. However, cable TV does not affect uneducated women. Theoretically informed index construction reduces the tolerance of violence effect, and weakens that on autonomy. We have statistical power concerns, and find errors and questionable assumptions in school enrolment constructions. Using our data constructions, effects sizes and significance are weakened. These results suggest that pure, statistical and scientific replication have merit.