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Detecting Drivers of Behavior at an Early Age: Evidence from a Longitudinal Field Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Marco Castillo
  • John A. List
  • Ragan Petrie
  • Anya Samek

Abstract

We investigate how skills developed when children are 3–5 years old drive schooling outcomes in middle childhood and adolescence. We find that skills map onto three distinct factors—cognitive skills, executive functions, and economic preferences. Importantly, each of the three factors predict later schooling outcomes. While early executive function skills and cognitive scores are linked to future behavioral patterns and other key student outcomes, economic preferences have an independent effect: children who are impatient in early childhood have more disciplinary referrals. Finally, random assignment to preschool impacts grades and disciplinary referrals through changes to cognitive skills and executive functions.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/731409
    DOI: 10.1086/731409
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    Cited by:

    1. Do, Huu-Luat & Cherry, Todd L., 2025. "Ghost fishing and the voluntary adoption of biodegradable gear," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    2. Zvonimir Bašić & Parampreet C. Bindra & Daniela Glätzle-Rützler & Angelo Romano & Matthias Sutter & Claudia Zoller, 2021. "The Roots of Cooperation," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 097, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    3. Eric A Hanushek & Lavinia Kinneifo & Philipp Lergetporer & Ludger Woessmann, 2022. "Patience, Risk-Taking, and Human Capital Investment Across Countries," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(646), pages 2290-2307.
    4. Silvia Angerer & E. Glenn Dutcher & Daniela Glätzle-Rützler & Philipp Lergetporer & Matthias Sutter, 2021. "The Formation of Risk Preferences through Small-Scale Events," CESifo Working Paper Series 9270, CESifo.
    5. Bonan, Jacopo & Burlacu, Sergiu & Galliera, Arianna, 2023. "Prosociality in variants of the dictator game: Evidence from children in El Salvador," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    6. Angerer, Silvia & Bolvashenkova, Jana & Glätzle-Rützler, Daniela & Lergetporer, Philipp & Sutter, Matthias, 2023. "Children’s patience and school-track choices several years later: Linking experimental and field data," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    7. John A. List & Ragan Petrie & Anya Samek, 2023. "How Experiments with Children Inform Economics," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 61(2), pages 504-564, June.
    8. John A. List & Haruka Uchida, 2024. "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow? Toward an Understanding of Fade-out in Early Childhood Education Programs," NBER Working Papers 33027, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Michael Cuna & Lenka Fiala & Min Sok Lee & John A. List & Sutanuka Roy, 2025. "The Role of Risk and Ambiguity Preferences on Early-Childhood Investment: Evidence from Rural India," NBER Working Papers 33610, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Belaïd, Fateh & Apeaning, Raphael, 2025. "Mapping the AI landscape in buildings energy research: Temporal dynamics and global disparities using topic modeling," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    11. Faith Fatchen & John A. List & Francesca Pagnotta, 2025. "Using AI to Generate Option C Scaling Ideas: A Case Study in Early Education," NBER Working Papers 33924, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education

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