Cash Transfers, Behavioral Changes, and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood : Evidence from a Randomized Experiment

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dc.creatorMacours, Karen
dc.creatorSchady, Norbert
dc.creatorVakis, Renos
dc.date2012-06-01T20:15:27Z
dc.date2012-06-01T20:15:27Z
dc.date2008-10
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-01T01:14:26Z
dc.descriptionA variety of theories of skill formation suggest that investments in schooling and other dimensions of human capital will have lower returns if children do not have adequate levels of cognitive and social skills at an early age. This paper analyzes the impact of a randomized cash transfer program on cognitive development in early childhood in rural Nicaragua. It shows that the program had significant effects on cognitive outcomes, especially language. Impacts are larger for older pre-school age children, who are also more likely to be delayed. The program increased intake of nutrient-rich foods, early stimulation, and use of preventive health care-all of which have been identified as risk factors for development in early childhood. Households increased expenditures on these inputs more than can be accounted for by the increases in cash income only, suggesting that the program changed parents' behavior. The findings suggest that gains in early childhood development outcomes should be taken into account when assessing the benefits of cash transfer programs in developing countries. More broadly, the paper illustrates that gains in early childhood development can result from interventions that facilitate investments made by parents to reduce risk factors for cognitive development.
dc.formatapplication/pdf
dc.formattext/plain
dc.identifierhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/10/9971523/cash-transfers-behavioral-changes-cognitive-development-early-childhood-evidence-randomized-experiment
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10986/6926
dc.identifierhttps://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-4759
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/416394
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherWorld Bank, Washington, DC
dc.relationPolicy Research Working Paper; No. 4759
dc.rightsCC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rightshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.rightsWorld Bank
dc.subjectACCESS TO PRESCHOOL
dc.subjectACCOUNT
dc.subjectACHIEVEMENT
dc.subjectAGE GROUPS
dc.subjectAGE TRENDS
dc.subjectAGED
dc.subjectATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT
dc.subjectAVAILABILITY OF BOOKS
dc.subjectBASIC TRAINING
dc.subjectBEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
dc.subjectBEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS
dc.subjectBREASTFEEDING
dc.subjectCAREGIVERS
dc.subjectCHILD CARE
dc.subjectCHILD DEVELOPMENT
dc.subjectCHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
dc.subjectCHILD HEALTH
dc.subjectCHILD LABOR
dc.subjectCHILD MALNUTRITION
dc.subjectCHILD NUTRITION
dc.subjectCOGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
dc.subjectCOGNITIVE OUTCOMES
dc.subjectCONTROL GROUPS
dc.subjectDEPRESSION
dc.subjectDEVELOPMENTAL POTENTIAL
dc.subjectDEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING
dc.subjectDIETS
dc.subjectDISADVANTAGED CHILDREN
dc.subjectEARLY CHILDHOOD
dc.subjectEARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
dc.subjectEARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
dc.subjectEARLY INTERVENTION
dc.subjectEARLY STIMULATION
dc.subjectEDUCATION PROGRAMS
dc.subjectENROLLMENT
dc.subjectEPIDEMIOLOGY
dc.subjectFAMILIES
dc.subjectGENDER
dc.subjectGENDER DIFFERENCES
dc.subjectGIRLS
dc.subjectHEALTH CARE
dc.subjectHEALTH OUTCOMES
dc.subjectHUMAN DEVELOPMENT
dc.subjectHYGIENE
dc.subjectINFANCY
dc.subjectINFANTS
dc.subjectINFERENCE
dc.subjectINTERVENTION
dc.subjectINTERVENTIONS
dc.subjectIRON
dc.subjectLANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
dc.subjectLANGUAGE SKILLS
dc.subjectLIVING STANDARDS
dc.subjectMEMORY
dc.subjectMENTAL
dc.subjectMENTAL HEALTH
dc.subjectMIGRATION
dc.subjectMOTOR SKILLS
dc.subjectNUTRITION
dc.subjectNUTRITIONAL STATUS
dc.subjectOLDER CHILDREN
dc.subjectONLY CHILDREN
dc.subjectPARENTAL EDUCATION
dc.subjectPARENTING
dc.subjectPEDIATRICS
dc.subjectPOPULATION STUDIES
dc.subjectPOSTNATAL DEPRESSION
dc.subjectPRESCHOOL CHILDREN
dc.subjectPRESCHOOLERS
dc.subjectPREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE
dc.subjectPRIMARY EDUCATION
dc.subjectPRIMARY HEALTH CARE
dc.subjectPRIMARY SCHOOL
dc.subjectPRIMARY SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
dc.subjectPSYCHOLOGY
dc.subjectPUBLIC HEALTH
dc.subjectREADING
dc.subjectRECALL
dc.subjectRECOGNITION
dc.subjectRISK FACTORS
dc.subjectRURAL AREAS
dc.subjectSCHOOL AGE CHILDREN
dc.subjectSCHOOLING
dc.subjectSKILL TRAINING
dc.subjectSOCIAL MARKETING
dc.subjectSOCIAL PROTECTION
dc.subjectSOCIAL SKILLS
dc.subjectVACCINATION
dc.subjectVERY YOUNG CHILDREN
dc.subjectVITAMINS
dc.subjectVOCATIONAL TRAINING
dc.subjectWAGES
dc.subjectYOUNG CHILDREN
dc.subjectYOUNGER CHILDREN
dc.titleCash Transfers, Behavioral Changes, and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood : Evidence from a Randomized Experiment

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