Bailey Martha J, Sun Shuqiao, Timpe Brenden
Department of Economics, University of California-Los Angeles.
The World Bank.
Am Econ Rev. 2021 Dec;111(12):3963-4001. doi: 10.1257/aer.20181801.
This paper evaluates the long-run effects of Head Start using large-scale, restricted administrative data. Using the county rollout of Head Start between 1965 and 1980 and age-eligibility cutoffs for school entry, we find that Head Start generated large increases in adult human capital and economic self-sufficiency, including a 0.65-year increase in schooling, a 2.7 percent increase in high school completion, an 8.5 percent increase in college enrollment, and a 39 percent increase in college completion. These estimates imply sizable, long-term returns to investments in means-tested, public preschool programs.
本文利用大规模受限行政数据评估了“启智计划”的长期影响。通过1965年至1980年间“启智计划”在各县的推广情况以及入学年龄资格截止线，我们发现“启智计划”极大地提高了成年人的人力资本和经济自给自足能力，包括受教育年限增加0.65年、高中完成率提高2.7%、大学入学率提高8.5%以及大学完成率提高39%。这些估计结果表明，对经过经济状况调查的公共学前教育项目进行投资能带来可观的长期回报。
