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A behavioral intervention to increase preschool attendance in Uruguay

Author

Listed:
  • Ajzenman, Nicolas
  • Luna, Laura Becerra
  • Hernández-Agramonte, Juan Manuel
  • Lopez Boo, Florencia
  • Perez Alfaro, Marcelo
  • Vásquez-Echeverría, Alejandro
  • Mateo Diaz, Mercedes

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a nationwide, low-cost intervention that used messages informed by behavioral economics and delivered through the government’s official mobile app to increase preschool attendance in Uruguay. We document null results for attendance and child development outcomes. We also estimate conditional average treatment effects (CATE) across individuals using causal forest algorithms. We present exploratory evidence that absenteeism and some measures of cognitive development might have improved for children around the median of the baseline distribution of attendance rate.

Suggested Citation

  • Ajzenman, Nicolas & Luna, Laura Becerra & Hernández-Agramonte, Juan Manuel & Lopez Boo, Florencia & Perez Alfaro, Marcelo & Vásquez-Echeverría, Alejandro & Mateo Diaz, Mercedes, 2022. "A behavioral intervention to increase preschool attendance in Uruguay," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:159:y:2022:i:c:s0304387822001262
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2022.102984
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Juanita Bloomfield & Ana Balsa & Alejandro Cid & Philip Oreopoulos, 2024. "Using technology and behavioral economics to promote development in the early years: The effect of an over-the-phone program," Documentos de Trabajo/Working Papers 2404, Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales y Economia. Universidad de Montevideo..

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