Work

Understanding the Mechanisms through Which an Influential Early Childhood Program Boosted Adult Outcomes

Year: 2012

Type: report

Abstract: A growing literature establishes that high quality early childhood interventions targeted toward disadvantaged children have substantial impacts on later life outcomes.Little is known about the mechanisms producing these impacts.This paper uses longitudinal data on cognitive and personality traits from an experimental evaluation of the influential Perry Preschool program to analyze the channels through which the program boosted both male and female participant outcomes.Experimentally induced changes in personality traits explain a sizable portion of adult treatment effects.

Source: National Bureau of Economic Research

DOI: 10.3386/w18581

Authors: James J. Heckman, Rodrigo R. Pinto, Peter A. Savelyev

Institutions: National Bureau of Economic Research, Ifo Institute for Economic Research, American Bar Foundation, IZA - Institute of Labor Economics, University of Chicago, William & Mary

Language: English

Topic: Early Childhood Education and Development

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funders: American Bar Foundation, J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation, Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, Institute for New Economic Thinking

OpenAlex ID: W3123346660

Cites: 117

Cited by: 422

Related to: 10