Income in utero and early childhood and child development

This project studies the impact of cash transfers received in utero and during early childhood on child human capital, and the mediating role of birth weight. We match administrative records from a cash transfer program in Uruguay, to records from birth certificates and public schools. First, we study the effects of receiving the transfer at different ages (in utero, first two years of life, or later in early childhood) on children’s school outcomes, including grade retention and grades. To identify differential effects of the cash transfer by age, we combine a regression discontinuity design, which takes advantage of the design of the eligibility to the program, with variation in child age at the start of the program. In addition, we study to what extent the impacts on school outcomes are mediated by increases in birth weight.

Keywords:cash transfer, child development, early childhood

Disciplines:Health, education and welfare economics