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A Study of the Microdynamics of Early-Childhood Learning

Author

Listed:
  • James J. Heckman
  • Jin Zhou

Abstract

This paper investigates the weekly evolution of skills as measured by unique data from a widely emulated early-childhood home-visiting program in rural China. The design of the study avoids input endogeneity issues and lack of comparable measures of skills that plague previous studies. Skills, nominally classified as the same, in fact, do not appear to share a common unit scale across levels. They are produced by skill- and life cycle–stage-specific learning processes. A novel dynamic stochastic skill production model for multiple skills is developed, aligning with empirical evidence. The model can explain the “fade-out” and recovery of measures of learning through the operation of a controlled stochastic process.

Suggested Citation

  • James J. Heckman & Jin Zhou, 2026. "A Study of the Microdynamics of Early-Childhood Learning," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 134(1), pages 49-85.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/739256
    DOI: 10.1086/739256
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    Cited by:

    1. James Heckman & Haihan Tian & Zijian Zhang & Jin Zhou, 2025. "Dynamic Complementarity," RFBerlin Discussion Paper Series 2595, ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin).
    2. John A. List, 2026. "The Economics of Scaling Early Childhood Programs: Lessons from the Chicago School," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 134(1), pages 1-48.
    3. 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:

    • C5 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling
    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments
    • D2 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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