Selling Crops Early to Pay for School
研究发现，马拉维小学开学时间提前三个月，迫使有学龄儿童的贫困家庭在价格低时提前出售作物，导致预期价格收益损失17.3%-26.5%，且对教育成果改善有限。
In 2010, primary school in Malawi began in September, three months earlier than in 2009. I show that this change forced households to sell crops early, when prices are low. The effect is limited to households with school children, increases with the number of children, and is present only for poor households. Households that financed school by selling early missed out on an expected 17.3–26.5 percent increase in output prices over three months. There is little evidence of improved schooling outcomes as a result of the change. I discuss the implications for policies that offer farmers commitment opportunities at harvest.