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daycare-systematic-review-preprint

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  • Harper, Sam

    (McGill University)

Abstract

Background: Research from high-income countries suggests that increasing the availability of daycare can improve economic outcomes for mothers, but similar research from low- and middle-income countries is lacking. Methods: We systematically searched databases of published and unpublished literature for studies that measured the impact of daycare provision on social, economic, and health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries without language or publication date restrictions. We synthesized the evidence using both narrative review and random effects meta-analysis. Results: We found 2073 studies and included 13 after applying our exclusion criteria. For a 30 percentage point increase in daycare utilization we estimate that maternal employment increased by 6 percentage points (95% confidence interval: 4 to 8), but we found considerable between-study heterogeneity and evidence of effect measure modification within studies. The impact on maternal earnings was mixed, and few studies assessed the impact of daycare on non-economic outcomes. Conclusions: We found moderate but heterogeneous evidence that interventions to increase access to formal daycare increase maternal labor force participation. Future studies would benefit from assessing the impact of daycare on non-economic outcomes and understanding the heterogeneity between studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Harper, Sam, 2017. "daycare-systematic-review-preprint," OSF Preprints xm8g6_v1, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:osfxxx:xm8g6_v1
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/xm8g6_v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jose Rosero & Hessel Oosterbeek, 2011. "Trade-offs between Different Early Childhood Interventions: Evidence from Ecuador," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 11-102/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    2. M. Rebecca Kilburn & Ashlesha Datar, 2002. "The Availability of Child Care Centers in China and Its Impact on Child Care and Maternal Work Decisions," Working Papers DRU-2924-NIH, RAND Corporation.
    3. M. Rebecca Kilburn & Ashlesha Datar, 2002. "The Availability of Child Care Centers in China and Its Impact on Child Care and Maternal Work Decisions," Working Papers 02-12, RAND Corporation.
    4. Deutsch, Ruthanne, 1998. "Does Child Care Pay?: Labor Force Participation and Earnings Effects of Access to Child Care in the Favelas of Rio de Janeiro," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 6083, Inter-American Development Bank.
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