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The Health Effects of Universal Early Childhood Interventions: Evidence from Sure Start

Author

Listed:
  • Cattan, Sarah

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies, London)

  • Conti, Gabriella

    (University College London)

  • Farquharson, Christine

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies, London)

  • Ginja, Rita

    (University of Bergen)

  • Pecher, Maud

    (Department of Health, UK)

Abstract

We evaluate the short- and medium-term health impacts of Sure Start, a large-scale and universal early childhood program in England. We exploit the rollout of the program and implement a difference-in-difference approach, combining data on the exact location and opening date of Sure Start centers with administrative data on the universe of admissions to public-sector hospitals. Exposure to an additional Sure Start center per thousand age-eligible children increases hospitalization by 10% at age 1 (around 6,700 hospitalizations per year), but reduces them by 8-9% across ages 11 to 15 (around 13,150 hospitalizations per year). These findings show that early childhood programs that are less intensive than small-scale 'model programs' can deliver significant health benefits, even in contexts with universal healthcare. Impacts are driven by hospitalizations for preventable conditions and are concentrated in disadvantaged areas, suggesting that enriching early childhood environments might be a successful strategy to reduce inequalities in health.

Suggested Citation

  • Cattan, Sarah & Conti, Gabriella & Farquharson, Christine & Ginja, Rita & Pecher, Maud, 2021. "The Health Effects of Universal Early Childhood Interventions: Evidence from Sure Start," IZA Discussion Papers 14868, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14868
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Brewer, Mike & Cattan, Sarah & Crawford, Claire & Rabe, Birgitta, 2022. "Does more free childcare help parents work more?," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    4. Kirill Borusyak & Xavier Jaravel & Jann Spiess, 2021. "Revisiting Event Study Designs: Robust and Efficient Estimation," Papers 2108.12419, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2024.
    5. Elizabeth U. Cascio, 2009. "Maternal Labor Supply and the Introduction of Kindergartens into American Public Schools," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 44(1).
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    1. repec:diw:diwwpp:dp2028 is not listed on IDEAS
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    3. Dan Anderberg & Christina Olympiou, 2023. "Children's social care and early intervention policy: Evidence from sure start," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 90(359), pages 953-977, July.
    4. von Hinke, Stephanie & Sørensen, Emil N., 2023. "The long-term effects of early-life pollution exposure: Evidence from the London smog," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    5. Barschkett, Mara & Bosque-Mercader, Laia, 2024. "Building Health across Generations: Unraveling the Impact of Early Childcare on Maternal Health," VfS Annual Conference 2024 (Berlin): Upcoming Labor Market Challenges 302394, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    6. Claire Crawford & Laura Outhwaite, 2023. "Why should we invest in Early Childhood Education and Care?," CEPEO Briefing Note Series 24, UCL Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities, revised Mar 2023.
    7. Mara Barschkett, 2022. "Age-specific Effects of Early Daycare on Children’s Health," Berlin School of Economics Discussion Papers 0005, Berlin School of Economics.
    8. Barschkett, Mara, 2023. "Age-specific Effects of Early Daycare on Children's Health," VfS Annual Conference 2023 (Regensburg): Growth and the "sociale Frage" 277588, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    health; early childhood intervention; difference-in-difference;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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