Work

Home Computer Use and the Development of Human Capital *

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: This paper uses a regression discontinuity design to estimate the effect of home computers on child and adolescent outcomes by exploiting a voucher program in Romania. Our main results indicate that home computers have both positive and negative effects on the development of human capital. Children who won a voucher to purchase a computer had significantly lower school grades but show improved computer skills. There is also some evidence that winning a voucher increased cognitive skills, as measured by Raven's Progressive Matrices. We do not find much evidence for an effect on non-cognitive outcomes. Parental rules regarding homework and computer use attenuate the effects of computer ownership, suggesting that parental monitoring and supervision may be important mediating factors.

Source: The Quarterly Journal of Economics

DOI: 10.1093/qje/qjr008

Authors: Ofer Malamud, Cristian Pop-Eleches

Institutions: University of Chicago, Columbia University

Language: English

Topic: Child Development and Digital Technology

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: green

Funder: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development