The cost of discipline? Exploring the impact of corporal punishment on children’s foundational learning skills in Bangladesh

This study investigates the impact of corporal punishment at home on children’s foundational learning skills in Bangladesh, a country where nearly 89% of mothers/ primary caretakers report using physical or psychological punishment at home. Using data from the 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), we employ a two-stage least squares (2SLS) instrumental variable approach to isolate the causal effects of corporal punishment, leveraging the implementation period of Bangladesh’s “2011 Child Law” act as an instrument. We find that exposure to corporal punishment at home significantly reduces the likelihood of children possessing foundational reading and numeracy skills. Male children are disproportionately affected, highlighting potential gender-specific mechanisms through which corporal punishment may affect learning outcomes. Our findings point to two policy imperatives: (1) stronger enforcement of existing bans on corporal punishment and (2) early-childhood interventions to address its long-term consequences.