Work

Child Care Provision: Semiparametric Evidence from a Randomized Experiment in Mexico

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: We estimate semiparametrically the impact of the Mexican conditional cash transfer program Oportunidades on the time mothers and older sisters spend taking care of children aged under 3, using the randomization of a program placement and the methodology in Lewbel (2000). Results support the existence of substitution effects: mothers in treatment households are more likely to substitute for their older daughters’ time to child care. As a result, daughters devote more time to schooling and less taking care of their younger siblings. Overall, total household time allocated to child care increases. These findings indicate that Oportunidades not only fosters human capital accumulation through keeping teenage girls in school but also through more and arguably better (mother provided) child care.

Source: Annals of Economics and Statistics

DOI: 10.2307/23646460

Authors: Pierre Dubois, Marta Rubio-Codina

Institutions: Toulouse School of Economics, Institute for Fiscal Studies

Language: English

Topic: Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, No poverty, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2148643642

FWCI: 4.16

Cites: 70

Cited by: 16

Related to: 10