Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/58441 
Year of Publication: 
2012
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 6315
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper provides new estimates of the medium and long-term impacts of Head Start on the health and behavioral problems of its participants. We identify these impacts using discontinuities in the probability of participation induced by program eligibility rules. Our strategy allows us to identify the effect of Head Start for the set of individuals in the neighborhoods of multiple discontinuities, which vary with family size, state and year (as opposed to a smaller set of individuals neighboring a single discontinuity). Participation in the program reduces the incidence of behavioral problems, serious health problems and obesity of male children at ages 12 and 13. It also lowers depression and obesity among adolescents, and reduces engagement in criminal activities for young adults.
Subjects: 
regression discontinuity design
early childhood development
non-cognitive skills
Head Start
JEL: 
C21
I28
I38
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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