Cognitive enrichment and human capital: Evidence from a school intervention in Malawi

Research indicates that poverty impedes cognition. This is particularly evident in developing countries, where children often underutilize their brains both outside and in school. The development of abilities such as critical analysis, informed decision-making, memory, strategic planning, and spatial awareness is crucial. These skills are frequently underdeveloped in contexts of extreme poverty. Chess is increasingly recognized as a valuable educational tool that offers a stimulating and enjoyable way to enhance cognitive development in children, fostering these essential skills.
In this context, chess, which has until now not been integrated into most Sub-Saharan African educational systems, presents a potentially cost-effective strategy to boost student achievement. Once acquired, the skills imparted by chess promise multidimensional cognitive benefits with relatively low requirements for supervision and minimal capital investment (such as chess sets). This study aims to conduct a randomized field experiment to specifically identify the impact of chess education on cognitive outcomes.