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Wealth Gradients in Early Childhood Cognitive Development in Five Latin American Countries
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Wealth Gradients in Early Childhood Cognitive Development in Five Latin American Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Vakis, Renos
  • Paxson, Christina
  • Marshall, Daniela
  • Macours, Karen
  • Lopez Boo, Florencia
  • Bravo, David
  • Bernal, Raquel
  • Azuero, Rodrigo
  • Araujo, María Caridad
  • Behrman, Jere R.
  • Schady, Norbert

Abstract

Research from the United States shows that gaps in early cognitive and non-cognitive ability appear early in the life cycle. Little is known about this important question for developing countries. This paper provides new evidence of sharp differences in cognitive development by socioeconomic status in early childhood for five Latin American countries. To help with comparability, we use the same measure of receptive language ability for all five countries. We find important differences in development in early childhood across countries, and steep socioeconomic gradients within every country. For the three countries where we can follow children over time, there are few substantive changes in scores once children enter school. Our results are robust to different ways of defining socioeconomic status, to different ways of standardizing outcomes, and to selective non-response on our measure of cognitive development.

Suggested Citation

  • Vakis, Renos & Paxson, Christina & Marshall, Daniela & Macours, Karen & Lopez Boo, Florencia & Bravo, David & Bernal, Raquel & Azuero, Rodrigo & Araujo, María Caridad & Behrman, Jere R. & Schady, Norb, 2014. "Wealth Gradients in Early Childhood Cognitive Development in Five Latin American Countries," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 4774, Inter-American Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:idb:brikps:4774
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karen Macours & Norbert Schady & Renos Vakis, 2012. "Cash Transfers, Behavioral Changes, and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 4(2), pages 247-273, April.
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    17. Karen Macours & Norbert Schady & Renos Vakis, 2012. "Cash Transfers, Behavioral Changes, and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 4(2), pages 247-273, April.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Desarrollo cognitivo; Estatus socioeconómico; Primera infancia; Lenguaje receptivo;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development

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