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The Impact of a Prototypical Home Visiting Program on Child Skills

Author

Listed:
  • Jin Zhou
  • James Heckman
  • Bei Liu
  • Mai Lu

Abstract

This paper develops and applies a new framework for estimating the causal impacts on child skills and the mechanisms producing these impacts using data from a large-scale randomized controlled study of a widely evaluated early-childhood home visiting program. We compare estimates from procedures that report treatment effects as unweighted averages of item scores with estimates adjusting for item difficulties. We generalize item response theory and Rasch model frameworks and estimate vectors of individual-level latent skills, comparing treatment and control group skills and their impacts on test scores. The program substantially improves multiple skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Jin Zhou & James Heckman & Bei Liu & Mai Lu, 2026. "The Impact of a Prototypical Home Visiting Program on Child Skills," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 44(1), pages 119-148.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/732301
    DOI: 10.1086/732301
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    Cited by:

    1. Jorge Luis García & James J. Heckman, 2023. "Parenting Promotes Social Mobility Within and Across Generations," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 15(1), pages 349-388, September.
    2. Jin Zhou & James J. Heckman & Bei Liu & Mai Lu & Susan M. Chang & Sally Grantham-McGregor, 2022. "Comparing China REACH and the Jamaica Home Visiting Program," NBER Working Papers 30529, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Amaral, Sofia & Dinarte-Diaz, Lelys & Dominguez, Patricio & Perez-Vincent, Santiago M., 2024. "Helping families help themselves: The (Un)intended impacts of a digital parenting program," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    4. Samuel Berlinski & Maria Marta Ferreyra & Luca Flabbi & Juan David Martin, 2024. "Childcare Markets, Parental Labor Supply, and Child Development," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 132(6), pages 2113-2177.
    5. Sadegh Eshaghnia & James J. Heckman, 2023. "Intergenerational Transmission of Inequality: Maternal Endowments, Investments, and Birth Outcomes," NBER Working Papers 31761, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. James Heckman & Haihan Tian & Zijian Zhang & Jin Zhou, 2025. "Dynamic Complementarity," RFBerlin Discussion Paper Series 2595, ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin).
    7. Bobby W. Chung & Jian Zou, 2023. "Understanding spillover of peer parental education: Randomization evidence and mechanisms," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 61(3), pages 496-522, July.
    8. repec:lic:licosd:42721 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Wang, Lei & Qian, Yiwei & Warrinnier, Nele & Attanasio, Orazio & Rozelle, Scott & Sylvia, Sean, 2023. "Parental investment, school choice, and the persistent benefits of an early childhood intervention," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    10. Sylvia, Sean & Luo, Renfu & Zhong, Jingdong & Dill, Sarah-Eve & Medina, Alexis & Rozelle, Scott, 2022. "Passive versus active service delivery: Comparing the effects of two parenting interventions on early cognitive development in rural China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    11. James J. Heckman & Bridget Galaty & Haihan Tian, 2023. "The Economic Approach to Personality, Character and Virtue," NBER Working Papers 31258, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    12. Lelys I. Dinarte Diaz & Saravana Ravindran & Manisha Shah & Shawn M. Powers & Helen Baker-Henningham, 2023. "Violent Discipline and Parental Behavior: Short- and Medium-term Effects of Virtual Parenting Support to Caregivers," NBER Working Papers 31338, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    13. Anthony Bald & Eric Chyn & Justine Hastings & Margarita Machelett, 2022. "The Causal Impact of Removing Children from Abusive and Neglectful Homes," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 130(7), pages 1919-1962.
    14. Marco Castillo & John A. List & Ragan Petrie & Anya Samek, 2024. "Detecting Drivers of Behavior at an Early Age: Evidence from a Longitudinal Field Experiment," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 132(12), pages 3942-3977.
    15. Pamela Jervis & Lina Cardona-Sosa & Michele Giannola & Sally Grantham-McGregor & Costas Meghir & Marta Rubio-Codina & Monimalika Day & Orazio Attanasio, 2024. "Early Childhood Intervention for the Poor: Long Term Outcomes," NBER Working Papers 32165, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    16. Flávio Cunha & Marsha Gerdes & Qinyou Hu & Snejana Nihtianova, 2024. "Language Environment and Maternal Expectations: An Evaluation of the LENA Start Program," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 18(1), pages 105-139.
    17. Ingvild Almås & Orazio Attanasio & Pamela Jervis, 2024. "Presidential Address: Economics and Measurement: New Measures to Model Decision Making," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 92(4), pages 947-978, July.
    18. James J. Heckman & Haihan Tian & Zijian Zhang & Jin Zhou, 2026. "Measuring the Growth of Skills," NBER Working Papers 34737, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • Z18 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Public Policy

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