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The Impact of Improving Nutrition During Early Childhood on Education among Guatemalan Adults

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  • John A. Maluccio
  • John Hoddinott
  • Jere R. Behrman
  • Reynaldo Martorell
  • Agnes R. Quisumbing
  • Aryeh D. Stein

Abstract

Using a longitudinal survey from rural Guatemala, we examine the effect of an early childhood nutritional intervention on adult educational outcomes. An intent‐to‐treat model yields substantial effects of an experimental intervention that provided highly nutritious food supplements to children, a quarter century after it ended: increases of 1.2 grades completed for women and one quarter SD on standardised reading comprehension and non‐verbal cognitive ability tests for both women and men. Two‐stage least squares results that endogenise the actual supplement intakes corroborate these magnitudes. Improving the nutrient intakes of very young children can have substantial, long‐term, educational consequences.

Suggested Citation

  • John A. Maluccio & John Hoddinott & Jere R. Behrman & Reynaldo Martorell & Agnes R. Quisumbing & Aryeh D. Stein, 2009. "The Impact of Improving Nutrition During Early Childhood on Education among Guatemalan Adults," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 119(537), pages 734-763, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:econjl:v:119:y:2009:i:537:p:734-763
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0297.2009.02220.x
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