贫困儿童预备学校：启智计划对人力资本与经济自给自足的长期影响

中文摘要

本文使用大规模受限行政数据评估了启智计划的长期效应。利用1965年至1980年间启智计划在各县推广以及入学年龄资格截断，我们发现启智计划大幅提升了成年期人力资本和经济自给自足，包括受教育年限增加0.65年、高中完成率增加2.7%、大学入学率增加8.5%以及大学完成率增加39%。这些估计值意味着，对家计调查型公共学前教育项目的投资具有可观的长期回报。

Abstract

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.