Cash Transfers, Behavioral Changes, and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood : Evidence from a Randomized Experiment

Cash Transfers, Behavioral Changes, and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood : Evidence from a Randomized Experiment

A variety of theories of skill formation suggest that investments in schooling and other dimensions of human capital will have lower returns if children do not have adequate levels of cognitive and social skills at an early age. This paper analyzes...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Macours, Karen, Schady, Norbert, Vakis, Renos
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2012
Subjects:
ACCESS TO PRESCHOOL
ACCOUNT
ACHIEVEMENT
AGE GROUPS
AGE TRENDS
AGED
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT
AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS
BASIC TRAINING
BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS
BREASTFEEDING
CAREGIVERS
CHILD CARE
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
CHILD HEALTH
CHILD LABOR
CHILD MALNUTRITION
CHILD NUTRITION
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
COGNITIVE OUTCOMES
CONTROL GROUPS
DEPRESSION
DEVELOPMENTAL POTENTIAL
DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING
DIETS
DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN
EARLY CHILDHOOD
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
EARLY INTERVENTION
EARLY STIMULATION
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
ENROLLMENT
EPIDEMIOLOGY
FAMILIES
GENDER
GENDER DIFFERENCES
GIRLS
HEALTH CARE
HEALTH OUTCOMES
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
HYGIENE
INFANCY
INFANTS
INFERENCE
INTERVENTION
INTERVENTIONS
IRON
LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
LANGUAGE SKILLS
LIVING STANDARDS
MEMORY
MENTAL
MENTAL HEALTH
MIGRATION
MOTOR SKILLS
NUTRITION
NUTRITIONAL STATUS
OLDER CHILDREN
ONLY CHILDREN
PARENTAL EDUCATION
PARENTING
PEDIATRICS
POPULATION STUDIES
POSTNATAL DEPRESSION
PRESCHOOL CHILDREN
PRESCHOOLERS
PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE
PRIMARY EDUCATION
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
PRIMARY SCHOOL
PRIMARY SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
PSYCHOLOGY
PUBLIC HEALTH
READING
RECALL
RECOGNITION
RISK FACTORS
RURAL AREAS
SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN
SCHOOLING
SKILL TRAINING
SOCIAL MARKETING
SOCIAL PROTECTION
SOCIAL SKILLS
VACCINATION
VERY YOUNG CHILDREN
VITAMINS
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
WAGES
YOUNG CHILDREN
YOUNGER CHILDREN
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/10/9971523/cash-transfers-behavioral-changes-cognitive-development-early-childhood-evidence-randomized-experiment
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6926
Description
Summary:A variety of theories of skill formation suggest that investments in schooling and other dimensions of human capital will have lower returns if children do not have adequate levels of cognitive and social skills at an early age. This paper analyzes the impact of a randomized cash transfer program on cognitive development in early childhood in rural Nicaragua. It shows that the program had significant effects on cognitive outcomes, especially language. Impacts are larger for older pre-school age children, who are also more likely to be delayed. The program increased intake of nutrient-rich foods, early stimulation, and use of preventive health care-all of which have been identified as risk factors for development in early childhood. Households increased expenditures on these inputs more than can be accounted for by the increases in cash income only, suggesting that the program changed parents' behavior. The findings suggest that gains in early childhood development outcomes should be taken into account when assessing the benefits of cash transfer programs in developing countries. More broadly, the paper illustrates that gains in early childhood development can result from interventions that facilitate investments made by parents to reduce risk factors for cognitive development.

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