American Economic Journal:
Applied Economics
ISSN 1945-7782 (Print) | ISSN 1945-7790 (Online)
From Access to Achievement: The Primary School-Age Impacts of an At-Scale Preschool Construction Program in Highly Deprived Communities
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
(pp. 242–75)
Abstract
We evaluate a large-scale public preschool construction program in deprived rural communities in Mozambique using a randomized controlled trial. The program increased preschool enrollment from 2 to 75 percent, improved primary school enrollment and progression, and led treated children to score higher in cognitive and social-emotional skills tests. Impacts were strongest among children of illiterate parents, in less poor households, and living near preschools. We provide evidence that preschool construction mediates later educational success at primary school age. We also detect increased parental investment in children and higher preschool enrollment for younger siblings. Finally, we estimate the program was implemented cost-effectively.Citation
Bassi, Marina, Bruno Besbas, Lelys Dinarte-Diaz, Saravana Ravindran, and Ana Reynoso. 2026. "From Access to Achievement: The Primary School-Age Impacts of an At-Scale Preschool Construction Program in Highly Deprived Communities." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 18 (4): 242–75. DOI: 10.1257/app.20240364Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- I21 Analysis of Education
- I26 Returns to Education
- I32 Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
- J13 Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
- O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
- O18 Economic Development: Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure