FROEBEL’S GIFTS: HOW THE KINDERGARTEN MOVEMENT CHANGED THE AMERICAN FAMILY

Philipp Ager and Francesco Cinnirella

No 15146, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: Nineteenth-century social reformers promoted the establishment of kindergartens as a remedy for the problems associated with industrialization and immigration. We evaluate the impact that the roll-out of the first kindergartens in American cities had on mothers and their children. Consistent with the predictions of a quantity-quality trade-off model, immigrant families exposed to kindergartens significantly reduced fertility. Their offspring at age 10-15 were more likely to attend school, they worked less, and as adults, they had fewer children. We also unveil positive language spillover effects of kindergarten education on immigrant mothers illustrating the importance of kindergartens for social integration.

Keywords: Kindergarten education; Fertility transition; Child labor; School attendance; Quantity-quality trade-off (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I25 J13 N31 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his and nep-ure
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