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No Child Left Behind: Universal Child Care and Children's Long-Run Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Havnes, Tarjei

    (Dept. of Economics, University of Oslo)

  • Mogstad, Magne

    (Statistics Norway)

Abstract

There is a heated debate in the US, Canada and many European countries about introducing universally accessible child care. However, studies on universal child care and child development are scarce and only consider short-run outcomes. We analyze the introduction of universal child care in Norway, addressing the impact on children’s long-run outcomes. Our precise and robust difference-in-difference estimates show that child care had strong positive effects on children’s educational attainment and labor market participation, and also reduced welfare dependency. Subsample analysis indicates that children with low educated mothers and girls benefit the most from child care.

Suggested Citation

  • Havnes, Tarjei & Mogstad, Magne, 2009. "No Child Left Behind: Universal Child Care and Children's Long-Run Outcomes," Memorandum 23/2009, Oslo University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:osloec:2009_023
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    File URL: https://www.sv.uio.no/econ/english/research/unpublished-works/working-papers/pdf-files/2009/Memo-23-2009.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    universal child care; child development; long-run outcomes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General
    • 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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