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Early Childhood Education

Author

Listed:
  • Sneha Elango

    (The University of Chicago)

  • Jorge Luis Garcia

    (The University of Chicago)

  • James J. Heckman

    () (The University of Chicago)

  • Andres Hojman

    (The University of Chicago)

Abstract

This paper organizes and synthesizes the literature on early childhood education and childcare. In it, we go beyond meta-analysis and reanalyze primary data sources in a common framework. We consider the evidence from means-tested demonstration programs, large-scale means-tested programs and universal programs without means testing. We discuss which programs are e ective and whether, and for which populations, these programs should be subsidized by governments. The evidence from high-quality demonstration programs targeted toward disadvantaged children shows bene cial e ects. Returns exceed costs, even accounting for the deadweight loss of collecting taxes. When proper policy counterfactuals are constructed, Head Start has bene cial e ects on disadvantaged children compared to home alternatives. Universal programs bene t disadvantaged children.

Suggested Citation

  • Sneha Elango & Jorge Luis Garcia & James J. Heckman & Andres Hojman, 2015. "Early Childhood Education," Working Papers 2015-017, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    • Handle: RePEc:hka:wpaper:2015-017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Early Childhood Education
      by maximorossi in NEP-LTV blog on 2016-02-12 18:22:53

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    Cited by:

    1. Cascio, Elizabeth U., 2017. "Does Universal Preschool Hit the Target? Program Access and Preschool Impacts," IZA Discussion Papers 10596, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Özler, Berk & Fernald, Lia C.H. & Kariger, Patricia & McConnell, Christin & Neuman, Michelle & Fraga, Eduardo, 2018. "Combining pre-school teacher training with parenting education: A cluster-randomized controlled trial," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 448-467.
    3. Huang, Cheng & Zhang, Shiying & Zhao, Qingguo, 2020. "The early bird catches the worm? School entry cutoff and the timing of births," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    4. van Huizen, Thomas & Plantenga, Janneke, 2018. "Do children benefit from universal early childhood education and care? A meta-analysis of evidence from natural experiments," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 206-222.
    5. Robert Rogers & Doan Hai Ma & Tra Nguyen & Ngoc Anh Nguyen, 2019. "Early childhood education and cognitive outcomes in adolescence: a longitudinal study from Vietnam," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(6), pages 658-669, November.
    6. Jun Hyung Kim, 2018. "The Economics of Parenting Skill and Child Development," 2018 Papers pki542, Job Market Papers.
    7. Katharina Werner, 2019. "Der Einfluss von Informationen auf die öffentliche Meinung zur Bildung - Erkenntnisse aus repräsentativen Befragungsexperimenten," ifo Beiträge zur Wirtschaftsforschung, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, number 82, April.
    8. Kuehnle, Daniel & Oberfichtner, Michael, 2017. "Does early child care attendance influence children's cognitive and non-cognitive skill development?," Discussion Papers 100, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Chair of Labour and Regional Economics.
    9. Huebener, Mathias & Kuehnle, Daniel & Spiess, C. Katharina, 2019. "Parental leave policies and socio-economic gaps in child development: Evidence from a substantial benefit reform using administrative data," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    10. Aaron Sojourner & José Pacas, 2019. "The Relationship Between Union Membership and Net Fiscal Impact," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(1), pages 86-107, January.
    11. Kuger, Susanne & Marcus, Jan & Spiess, C. Katharina, 2019. "Day care quality and changes in the home learning environment of children," EconStor Open Access Articles, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, pages 265-286.
    12. Remy J. -C. Pages & Dylan J. Lukes & Drew H. Bailey & Greg J. Duncan, 2019. "Elusive Longer-Run Impacts of Head Start: Replications Within and Across Cohorts," Papers 1903.01954, arXiv.org, revised Feb 2020.
    13. Georg F. Camehl & C. Katharina Spieß & Kurt Hahlweg, 2019. "Short- and Mid-Term Effects of a Parenting Program on Maternal Well-Being: Evidence for More and Less Advantaged Mothers," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 1062, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    14. Monique De Haan & Edwin Leuven, 2016. "Head Start and the Distribution of Long Term Education and Labor Market Outcomes," CESifo Working Paper Series 5870, CESifo.
    15. Kuehnle, Daniel & Oberfichtner, Michael, 2017. "Does early child care attendance influence children's cognitive and non-cognitive skill development?," Annual Conference 2017 (Vienna): Alternative Structures for Money and Banking 168241, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    16. Aydemir, Abdurrahman B. & Yazici, Hakki, 2019. "Intergenerational education mobility and the level of development," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 160-185.
    17. Victoria Baranov & Sonia Bhalotra & Pietro Biroli & Joanna Maselko, 2017. "Maternal Depression, Women’s Empowerment, and Parental Investment: Evidence from a Large Randomized Control Trial," CHILD Working Papers Series 60 JEL Classification: I1, Centre for Household, Income, Labour and Demographic Economics (CHILD) - CCA.
    18. Christian Dustmann & Rasmus Landersø, 2018. "Child's Gender, Young Fathers' Crime, and Spillover Effects in Criminal Behavior," CReAM Discussion Paper Series 1805, Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM), Department of Economics, University College London.
    19. Doyle, Orla & Harmon, Colm & Heckman, James J. & Logue, Caitriona & Moon, Seong Hyeok, 2017. "Early skill formation and the efficiency of parental investment: A randomized controlled trial of home visiting," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 40-58.
    20. Pablo Lavado & Nelson Oviedo & Hernán Ruffo, 2016. "Destruction of Cognitive and Noncognitive Skills in Adulthood," Working Papers 16-07, Centro de Investigación, Universidad del Pacífico.
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    22. Kim, Jun Hyung & Schulz, Wolfgang & Zimmermann, Tanja & Hahlweg, Kurt, 2018. "Parent–child interactions and child outcomes: Evidence from randomized intervention," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 152-171.
    23. Victoria Baranov & Sonia Bhalotra & Pietro Biroli & Joanna Maselko, 2018. "Maternal Depression, Women’s Empowerment, and Parental Investment: Evidence from a Randomized Control Trial," Working Papers 2018-021, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    24. Sun, Jin & Lau, Carrie & Sincovich, Alanna & Rao, Nirmala, 2018. "Socioeconomic status and early child development in East Asia and the Pacific: The protective role of parental engagement in learning activities," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 321-330.
    25. Baranov, Victoria & Bhalotra, Sonia R. & Biroli, Pietro & Maselko, Joanna, 2017. "Maternal Depression, Women's Empowerment, and Parental Investment: Evidence from a Large Randomized Control Trial," IZA Discussion Papers 11187, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    early childhood education; childcare; evaluation of social programs;

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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