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Estimating the Production Function for Human Capital: Results from a Randomized Control Trial in Colombia

Author

Listed:
  • Orazio Attanasio

    (University College London & Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Sarah Cattan

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Emla Fitzsimons

    (UCL Institute of Education & Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Costas Meghir

    (Cowles Foundation, Yale University)

  • Marta Rubio-Codina

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies & Inter-American Development Bank)

Abstract

We examine the channels through which a randomized early childhood intervention in Colombia led to signi"cant gains in cognitive and socio-emotional skills among a sample of disadvantaged children aged 12 to 24 months at baseline. We estimate the determinants of parents� material and time investments in these children and evaluate the impact of the treatment on such investments. We then estimate the production functions for cognitive and socio-emotional skills. The e"ects of the program can be explained by increases in parental investments, emphasizing the importance of parenting interventions at an early age.

Suggested Citation

  • Orazio Attanasio & Sarah Cattan & Emla Fitzsimons & Costas Meghir & Marta Rubio-Codina, 2015. "Estimating the Production Function for Human Capital: Results from a Randomized Control Trial in Colombia," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 1987R2, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University, revised Jul 2018.
    • Handle: RePEc:cwl:cwldpp:1987r2
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Early childhood development; Human capital; Poverty alleviation; Nonlinear factor models;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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