Wheels of Power: Can Free Bicycles for Schoolgirls Free Their Mothers?

We study whether a social program to facilitate girls’ schooling in India increases theautonomy of mothers and other female family members. The program gives every girl inGrade 9 a cash amount to purchase a bicycle. This targeted in-kind provision has the effectof lowering the price of educating girls. It also signals the worth of young women. Wefind a strong empowerment effect on older female family members. The effect is strongestin areas where the program has the biggest impact on girls’ schooling, suggesting that itis an indirect outcome of targeting benefits towards schoolgirls.