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Understanding the Mechanisms Through Which an Influential Early Childhood Program Boosted Adult Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Heckman, James J.

    (University of Chicago)

  • Pinto, Rodrigo

    (University of California, Los Angeles)

  • Savelyev, Peter A.

    (College of William and Mary)

Abstract

A growing literature establishes that high quality early childhood interventions targeted toward disadvantaged children have substantial impacts on later life outcomes. Little is known about the mechanisms producing these impacts. This paper uses longitudinal data on cognitive and personality traits from an experimental evaluation of the influential Perry Preschool program to analyze the channels through which the program boosted both male and female participant outcomes. Experimentally induced changes in personality traits explain a sizable portion of adult treatment effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Heckman, James J. & Pinto, Rodrigo & Savelyev, Peter A., 2012. "Understanding the Mechanisms Through Which an Influential Early Childhood Program Boosted Adult Outcomes," IZA Discussion Papers 7040, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7040
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    early childhood interventions; human development; human capital; factor analysis; academic motivation; externalizing behavior; personality traits; cognitive traits; social experiments; Perry Preschool program; experimentally estimated production functions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • I29 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Other
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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