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The Lasting Effects of Early Childhood Education on Promoting the Skills and Social Mobility of Disadvantaged African Americans

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Listed:
  • Jorge Luis García
  • James J. Heckman
  • Victor Ronda

Abstract

This paper demonstrates multiple beneficial impacts of a program promoting intergenerational mobility for disadvantaged African-American children and their children. The program improves outcomes of the first-generation treatment group across the life cycle, which translates into better family environments for the second generation leading to positive intergenerational gains. There are long-lasting beneficial program effects on cognition through age 54, contradicting claims of fadeout that have dominated popular discussions of early childhood programs. Children of the first-generation treatment group have higher levels of education and employment, lower levels of criminal activity, and better health than children of the first-generation control group.

Suggested Citation

  • Jorge Luis García & James J. Heckman & Victor Ronda, 2021. "The Lasting Effects of Early Childhood Education on Promoting the Skills and Social Mobility of Disadvantaged African Americans," NBER Working Papers 29057, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:29057
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    Cited by:

    1. Jorge Luis García & James J. Heckman, 2023. "Parenting Promotes Social Mobility Within and Across Generations," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 15(1), pages 349-388, September.
    2. Randall Akee & Leah R. Clark, 2023. "Universal Preschool Lottery Admissions and Its Effects on Long-Run Earnings and Outcomes," Working Papers 23-09, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    3. James J. Heckman & Colleen P. Loughlin, 2021. "Are Student-Athletes Exploited?," NBER Working Papers 29072, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Orlando Uccellini & Andrea Benlodi & Emanuele Caroppo & Loredana Cena & Gianluca Esposito & Isabel Fernandez & Maria Ghazanfar & Antonio Imbasciati & Francesco Longo & Marianna Mazza & Giuseppe Marano, 2022. "1000 Days: The “WeCare Generation” Program—The Ultimate Model for Improving Human Mental Health and Economics: The Study Protocol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Marsh, Vic & Delavallade, Clara & Das, Smita & Rouanet, Lea Marie & Koroknay-Palicz, Tricia & McDaniel, Dawn, 2025. "Assessing Workplace Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Skills in Africa : The ESTEEM Framework," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11128, The World Bank.
    6. Martín García-Vázquez, 2025. "The Equilibrium Effects of State-Mandated Minimum Staff-to-Child Ratios," Working Papers 2024-025, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    7. Paul Gertler & James J. Heckman & Rodrigo Pinto & Susan M. Chang & Sally Grantham-McGregor & Christel Vermeersch & Susan Walker & Amika Wright, 2021. "Effect of the Jamaica Early Childhood Stimulation Intervention on Labor Market Outcomes at Age 31," NBER Working Papers 29292, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • H43 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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