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Middle-run educational impacts of comprehensive early childhood interventions: evidence from a pioneer program in Chile

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  • Britta Rude

    (iFO Institute and Ludwig-Maximilian Universität München)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impact of comprehensive and universal early childhood development programs on educational outcomes during middle childhood. I exploit the birth eligibility cutoff of a pioneer intervention of this type in Chile and use administrative data on grade point averages and standardized test scores. Program exposure raises standardized math scores by 1.8% of a standard deviation, standardized reading scores by 4.0% of a standard deviation, and grade point averages by 0.03% of a standard deviation. I find that socioeconomically vulnerable children benefit less from program exposure. The educational marginal value of public funds indicates that the program is beneficial overall and pays for itself.

Suggested Citation

  • Britta Rude, 2024. "Middle-run educational impacts of comprehensive early childhood interventions: evidence from a pioneer program in Chile," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(2), pages 1-30, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:37:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s00148-024-01011-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-024-01011-0
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