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Improving Parental Investments in Children: Experimental Evidence from The Gambia

Author

Listed:
  • Blimpo, Moussa

    (University of Toronto)

  • Carneiro, Pedro

    (University College London)

  • Jervis Ortiz, Pamela

    (Universidad de Chile)

  • Lahire, Nathalie

    (World Bank)

  • Pugatch, Todd

    (University at Buffalo, SUNY)

Abstract

We study two early childhood programs in The Gambia for children between 0 and 3 years of age. The basic version of the program, called Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI), provides parents with child health and nutrition information delivered through home visits and community meetings. A second version, called BFCI+, is center-based and adds cognitive stimulation to the basic version of the program through activities with children. Villages were randomly assigned to one of two versions of the program or to a control group that received neither. The BFCI+ program had moderate impacts on parental investments in children in terms of resources and time. Child language development improved for well-off parents or parents in the more well-off region. Poorer parents invested more in time spent with the children, whereas those who were more materially well-off spent more financial resources on the children. The basic version of the program, the BFCI, had no detectable impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Blimpo, Moussa & Carneiro, Pedro & Jervis Ortiz, Pamela & Lahire, Nathalie & Pugatch, Todd, 2024. "Improving Parental Investments in Children: Experimental Evidence from The Gambia," IZA Discussion Papers 17133, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17133
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Holla,Alaka & Bendini,Maria Magdalena & Dinarte Diaz,Lelys Ileana & Trako,Iva, 2021. "Is Investment in Preprimary Education Too Low ? Lessons from (Quasi) ExperimentalEvidence across Countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9723, The World Bank.
    2. Italo Lopez Garcia & Uzaib Y Saya & Jill E Luoto, 2021. "Cost-effectiveness and economic returns of group-based parenting interventions to promote early childhood development: Results from a randomized controlled trial in rural Kenya," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(9), pages 1-20, September.
    3. Milagros Nores & Steven W. Barnett, 2012. "Benefits of Early Childhood Interventions Across the World: (Under) Investing in the Very Young," Voprosy obrazovaniya / Educational Studies Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics, issue 1, pages 200-228.
    4. Orazio P. Attanasio, 2015. "The Determinants Of Human Capital Formation During The Early Years Of Life: Theory, Measurement, And Policies," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 13(6), pages 949-997, December.
    5. Lopez Garcia, Italo & Luoto, Jill E. & Aboud, Frances E. & Fernald, Lia C.H., 2023. "Group Meetings and Boosters to Sustain Early Impacts on Child Development: Experimental Evidence from Kenya," IZA Discussion Papers 16392, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Luo, Renfu & Emmers, Dorien & Warrinnier, Nele & Rozelle, Scott & Sylvia, Sean, 2019. "Using community health workers to deliver a scalable integrated parenting program in rural China: A cluster-randomized controlled trial," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    early childhood development; cognitive stimulation; teacher training; The Gambia; randomized controlled trials; Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O22 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Project Analysis

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