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Wealth Gradients in Early Childhood Cognitive Development in Five Latin American Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Norbert Schady

    (Inter-American Development Bank (IDB))

  • Jere Behrman

    (Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania)

  • Maria Caridad Araujo

    (World Bank Group; Inter-American Development Bank (IDB))

  • Rodrigo Azuero

    (Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania)

  • Raquel Bernal

    (Universidad de los Andes, Colombia - Department of Economics; Northwestern University - Department of Economics)

  • David Bravo

    (Department of Economics, Universidad de Chile)

  • Florencia López Bóo

    (Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); IZA)

  • Karen Macours

    (Paris School of Economics)

  • Daniela Marshall

    (Populations Study Center, University of Pennsylvania)

  • Christina Paxson

    (Office of the Dean, Brown University)

  • Renos Vakis

    (District of Columbia, Washington DC, The World Bank)

Abstract
Research from the United States shows that gaps in early cognitive and non-cognitive ability appear early in the life cycle. Little is known about this important question for developing countries. This paper provides new evidence of sharp differences in cognitive development by socioeconomic status in early childhood for five Latin American countries. To help with comparability, we use the same measure of receptive language ability for all five countries. We find important differences in development in early childhood across countries, and steep socioeconomic gradients within every country. For the three countries where we can follow children over time, there are few substantive changes in scores once children enter school. Our results are robust to different ways of defining socioeconomic status, to different ways of standardizing outcomes, and to selective non-response on our measure of cognitive development.

Suggested Citation

  • Norbert Schady & Jere Behrman & Maria Caridad Araujo & Rodrigo Azuero & Raquel Bernal & David Bravo & Florencia López Bóo & Karen Macours & Daniela Marshall & Christina Paxson & Renos Vakis, 2014. "Wealth Gradients in Early Childhood Cognitive Development in Five Latin American Countries," PIER Working Paper Archive 14-010, Penn Institute for Economic Research, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania.
    • Handle: RePEc:pen:papers:14-010
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karen Macours & Norbert Schady & Renos Vakis, 2012. "Cash Transfers, Behavioral Changes, and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 4(2), pages 247-273, April.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    early childhood; socioeconomic gaps; Latin-American;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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