Investing in Health: The Long-Term Impact of Head Start

Kathryn Anderson (), James Foster () and David Frisvold

No 426, Vanderbilt University Department of Economics Working Papers from Vanderbilt University Department of Economics

Abstract: Head Start is a comprehensive, early childhood development program designed to augment the human capital and health capital levels of disadvantaged children. Grossman's (1972) health capital model suggests that early investments of this type should have lasting effects on health outcomes. This research evaluates the impact of Head Start on long-term health by comparing health outcome and behavioral indicators of adults who attended Head Start with those of siblings who did not. The results suggest that there are long-term health benefits from participation in Head Start and that these benefits result from lifestyle changes.

Keywords: Early childhood education; Head Start; health; health capital; health disparities; human capital; program evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H51 I12 I21 I38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu, nep-hea, nep-ltv, nep-pbe and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:van:wpaper:0426

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