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Quantiles of the gain distribution of an early childhood intervention

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  • Erich Battistin
  • Carlos Lamarche
  • Enrico Rettore

Abstract

We investigate the distribution of gains among participants in the Infant Health and Development Program, an understudied randomized controlled trial that targets infants with low birth weight. Our primary focus is on assessing the effects in cognitive and health outcomes within distinct subgroups, which we define based on the outcomes that would occur in the absence of program participation. We propose a strategy to estimate the distribution of gains from the program by using anthropometrics measurements taken at birth, under the assumption that potential outcomes depend on underlying latent factors explaining neonatal health. Our findings reveal that the enhancements in cognitive and health outcomes at 36 months are not uniformly distributed among program participants. The variability in these effects can be attributed to several factors, including neonatal health, post‐natal shocks, and family income.

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  • Erich Battistin & Carlos Lamarche & Enrico Rettore, 2024. "Quantiles of the gain distribution of an early childhood intervention," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(6), pages 1045-1064, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:japmet:v:39:y:2024:i:6:p:1045-1064
    DOI: 10.1002/jae.3071
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

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