CFDP 1987R3

Estimating the Production Function for Human Capital: Results from a Randomized Control Trial in Colombia

Publication Date: February 2015

Revision Date: May 2019

Pages: 59

Abstract: 

We examine the channels through which a randomized early childhood intervention in Colombia led to significant gains in cognitive and socio-emotional skills among a sample of disadvantaged children aged 12 to 24 months at baseline. We estimate the determinants of parents’ material and time investments in these children and evaluate the impact of the treatment on such investments. We then estimate the production functions for cognitive and socio-emotional skills. The effects of the program can be explained by increases in parental investments, emphasizing the importance of parenting interventions at an early age.

Supplemental Material: Supplemental material

Supplement pages: 49

Keywords: 

Early childhood development, Human capital, Poverty alleviation, Nonlinear factor models

JEL Classification Codes: J13, J24, I24, I25, I32, O15

JEL Classification Codes: J13J24I24I25I32O15