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Synopsis, Childhood shocks, safety nets and cognitive skills: Panel data evidence from rural Ethiopia

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  • Berhane, Guush
  • Abay, Mehari Hiluf
  • Woldehanna, Tassew

Abstract

Using child-level panel data from rural areas of Ethiopia, we analyze effects of both economic and non-economic shocks on child cognition skills measured after the early childhood age window. We identify that drought, in particular, reduces child cognitive skills markedly. Food price inflation during the study period and divorce also have significant adverse effects on cognition. Promisingly, we find that the safety net program established by the Ethiopian government in 2005 to protect households from the economic effects of such shocks mitigated the reduction in cognitive skills associated with these shocks

Suggested Citation

  • Berhane, Guush & Abay, Mehari Hiluf & Woldehanna, Tassew, 2016. "Synopsis, Childhood shocks, safety nets and cognitive skills: Panel data evidence from rural Ethiopia," ESSP research notes 49, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:fpr:essprn:49
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    File URL: https://hdl.handle.net/10568/148330
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stefan Dercon & Catherine Porter, 2014. "Live Aid Revisited: Long-Term Impacts Of The 1984 Ethiopian Famine On Children," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 12(4), pages 927-948, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Carolyn B. Reyes & Heather Randell, 2023. "Household Shocks and Adolescent Well-Being in Peru," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(3), pages 1-22, June.
    2. Jean-Francois Maystadt & Habtamu Beshir, 2016. "In utero seasonal food insecurity and cognitive development: Evidence from Ethiopia," Working Papers 157856919, Lancaster University Management School, Economics Department.

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