Understanding the Mechanisms through Which an Influential Early Childhood Program Boosted Adult OutcomesArticle Citation

Heckman, James, Rodrigo Pinto, and Peter Savelyev. 2013. "Understanding the Mechanisms through Which an Influential Early Childhood Program Boosted Adult Outcomes." American Economic Review,103(6): 2052-86.

DOI: 10.1257/aer.103.6.2052


Abstract

A growing literature establishes that high quality early childhoodinterventions targeted toward disadvantaged children havesubstantial impacts on later life outcomes. Little is known about themechanisms producing these impacts. This paper uses longitudinaldata on cognitive and personality skills from an experimentalevaluation of the influential Perry Preschool program to analyzethe channels through which the program boosted both male andfemale participant outcomes. Experimentally induced changes inpersonality skills explain a sizable portion of adult treatment effects.

The Effect of Education on Adult Mortality and Health: Evidence from BritainArticle Citation

Clark, Damon, and Heather Royer. 2013. "The Effect of Education on Adult Mortality and Health: Evidence from Britain." American Economic Review,103(6): 2087-2120.

DOI: 10.1257/aer.103.6.2087


Abstract

There is a strong, positive, and well-documented correlationbetween education and health outcomes. In this paper, we attempt tounderstand to what extent this relationship is causal. Our approachexploits two changes to British compulsory schooling laws thatgenerated sharp across-cohort differences in educational attainment.Using regression discontinuity methods, we find the reforms did notaffect health although the reforms impacted educational attainmentand wages. Our results suggest caution as to the likely health returnsto educational interventions focused on increasing educationalattainment among those at risk of dropping out of high school, atarget of recent health policy efforts.