Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/325100 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 18042
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper is the first to meta-analyse the literature on the causal effects of school-meal programmes on children's behavioural, health and educational outcomes in developed countries, while addressing potential publication bias and heterogeneity between studies. We create a sample of 2,821 estimates from 42 studies and gather 59 aspects reflecting the context in which each estimate was obtained, including type of data, programme characteristics, student population, estimation method and publication quality, among others. We employ both linear and non-linear techniques to correct for publication bias, and we use Bayesian model averaging to study heterogeneous effects and address model uncertainty. The results are consistent with small publication bias - with the exception of studies devoted to analysing test scores, which appear more selective when reporting results. Once publication bias is accounted for, we find that school-meal programmes in high-income economies have minimal impact on students' behaviour, health and education. Our heterogeneity analysis documents the fact that means-tested programmes and breakfast initiatives yield the greatest benefits for children's outcomes.
Subjects: 
meta-analysis
education
health
behaviour
children
school-meal programmes
Bayesian model averaging
model uncertainty
JEL: 
H42
H53
I38
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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