Early childhood human capital formation at scale

Johannes M. Bos, Abu Shonchoy, Saravana Ravindran and Akib Khan

Journal of Public Economics, 2024, vol. 231, issue C

Abstract: Can governments leverage existing service-delivery platforms to scale early childhood development (ECD) interventions? We experimentally study a large-scale, low-cost home-visiting intervention – providing materials and counseling – integrated into Bangladesh’s national nutrition program without extra financial incentives for service providers (SPs). We find SPs partially substitute away from nutritional to ECD counseling. Intent-to-treat estimates show positive impacts on child’s cognition (0.17 SD), language (0.23 SD), and socio-emotional scores (0.12-0.14 SD). Wasting and underweight rates decline. Older siblings’ primary school attendance increases as well. Improved maternal agency, complementary parental investments, and higher take-up of the pre-existing nutrition program are important mechanisms. We estimate a sizeable internal rate-of-return of 18.9%.

Keywords: Early childhood development; Human capital formation; Bangladesh (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Working Paper: Early Childhood Human Capital Formation at Scale (2021)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:231:y:2024:i:c:s0047272723002281

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2023.105046

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