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How Does Early Childcare Enrollment Affect Children, Parents, and Their Interactions?

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  • Yamaguchi, Shintaro
  • Asai, Yukiko
  • Kambayashi, Ryo
  • 神林, 龍

Abstract

We estimate the effects of childcare enrollment on child outcomes by exploiting a staggered childcare expansion across regions in Japan. We find that childcare improves language development among boys and reduces aggression and the symptoms of ADHD among the children of low-education mothers. Estimates show that the improved child behavior is strongly associated with better parenting quality and maternal wellbeing. Evidence also suggests that promoting positive parenting practices is an important element of an effective childcare program. Our estimates for marginal treatment effects indicate that children who would benefit most from childcare are less likely to attend, implying inefficient allocation.

Suggested Citation

  • Yamaguchi, Shintaro & Asai, Yukiko & Kambayashi, Ryo & 神林, 龍, 2017. "How Does Early Childcare Enrollment Affect Children, Parents, and Their Interactions?," Discussion Paper Series 656, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    • Handle: RePEc:hit:hituec:656
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    Cited by:

    1. Michihito Ando & Hiroaki Mori & Shintaro Yamaguchi, 2022. "Universal Early Childhood Education and Adolescent Risky Behavior," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2218, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    2. Mika Akesaka & Nobuyoshi Kikuchi, 2021. "The Effects of Gender-Specific Local Labor Demand on Birth and Later Outcomes," ISER Discussion Paper 1153r, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University, revised May 2022.
    3. Akabayashi, Hideo & Ruberg, Tim & Shikishima, Chizuru & Yamashita, Jun, 2023. "Education-oriented and care-oriented preschools: Implications on child development," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    4. Akesaka, Mika & Kikuchi, Nobuyoshi, 2024. "The effects of gender-specific local labor demand on birth and later outcomes," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    5. Nabanita Datta Gupta & Jonas Jessen, 2023. "Maternity leave versus early childcare—What are the long-term consequences for children?," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 438-438, May.
    6. Ando, Michihito & Mori, Hiroaki & Yamaguchi, Shintaro, 2022. "Universal Early Childhood Education and Adolescent Risky Behavior," IZA Discussion Papers 15531, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. van den Berg, Gerard J. & Siflinger, Bettina M., 2022. "The effects of a daycare reform on health in childhood – Evidence from Sweden," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    8. Tsubasa Ito & Michio Naoi & Kazuto Sumita & Qing Ye, 2024. "The Impact of Daycare Closures Owing to COVID-19 on Parental Stress: The Case of Japan," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 579-595, September.
    9. KITAGAWA Ritsu & KURODA Sachiko & OKUDAIRA Hiroko & OWAN Hideo, 2021. "Working from Home: Its Effects on Productivity and Mental Health," Discussion papers 21024, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    10. Ando, Michihito & Mori, Hiroaki & Yamaguchi, Shintaro, 2022. "Universal early childhood education and adolescent risky behavior," SocArXiv rnkgs, Center for Open Science.
    11. Yamaguchi, Shintaro & Asai, Yukiko & Kambayashi, Ryo, 2018. "Effects of subsidized childcare on mothers’ labor supply under a rationing mechanism," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1-17.
    12. Mika Akesaka & Nobuyoshi Kikuchi, 2021. "The Effects of Gender-Specific Local Labor Demand on Birth and Later Outcomes," ISER Discussion Paper 1153, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University.
    13. Aalto, Aino-Maija & Mörk, Eva & Sjögren, Anna & Svaleryd, Helena, 2019. "Does childcare improve the health of children with unemployed parents? Evidence from Swedish childcare access reform," Working Paper Series 2019:1, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    14. YAMAMURA, Eiji & Tsutsui, Yoshiro, 2020. "Impact of closing schools on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence using panel data from Japan," MPRA Paper 105023, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Asakawa, Shinsuke & Sasaki, Masaru, 2022. "Can child benefit reductions increase maternal employment? Evidence from Japan," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    16. HAGIWARA Risa & LIU Yang, 2023. "Work-life Conflicts of Native and Immigrant Women in Japan," Discussion papers 23056, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    17. Eiji Yamamura, 2021. "Do You Want Sustainable Olympics? Environment, Disaster, Gender, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-14, November.
    18. Zhang, Chi & Managi, Shunsuke, 2020. "Functional social support and maternal stress: A study on the 2017 paid parental leave reform in Japan," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 153-172.
    19. repec:dpr:wpaper:1153rr is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Shuang Yang, 2021. "The Long-Run Effects of Early Childhood Education and Care—An Empirical Analysis Based on the China Family Panel Studies Survey," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(5), pages 2021-2044, October.
    21. Del Bono, Emilia & Kinsler, Josh & Pavan, Ronni, 2020. "Skill Formation and the Trouble with Child Non-Cognitive Skill Measures," IZA Discussion Papers 13713, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    22. Yokoo, Hide-Fumi & 横尾, 英史, 2020. "Ethics of randomized field experiments: Evidence from a randomized survey experiment," Discussion Papers 2020-07, Graduate School of Economics, Hitotsubashi University.
    23. Lin Zhang, 2021. "Education Expenditure and Parenting Styles: Evidence from Cognitive Development in China," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 729-744, December.
    24. Eiji Yamamura & Yoshiro Tsustsui, 2021. "School closures and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 34(4), pages 1261-1298, October.

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    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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