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The Effect of a Universal Preschool Programme on Long-Term Health Outcomes: Evidence from Spain

Author

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  • Laia Bosque-Mercader
Abstract
Early childhood education programmes are expected to improve child conditions including educational attainment, labour, and health outcomes. This study evaluates the effect of a Spanish universal preschool programme, which implied a large-scale expansion of full-time high-quality public preschool for three-year-olds in 1991, on long-term health. Using a difference-in-differences approach, I exploit the timing of the policy and the differential initial speed of implementation of public preschool expansion across regions. I compare long-term health of cohorts aged three before to those aged three after the start of the policy residing in regions with varying initial implementation intensity of the programme. The results show that the policy does not affect long-term health outcomes and use of healthcare services, except for two outcomes. A greater initial intensity in public preschool expansion by 10 percentage points decreases the likelihood of being diagnosed with asthma by 2.1 percentage points, but hospitalisation rates increase by 2.7%. The findings indicate that the effect on asthma is larger for men, hospitalisation rates are higher for pregnant women, and disadvantaged children benefit the most in terms of a lower probability of taking medicines and being diagnosed with asthma and mental health disorders.

Suggested Citation

  • Laia Bosque-Mercader, 2022. "The Effect of a Universal Preschool Programme on Long-Term Health Outcomes: Evidence from Spain," Working Papers 2022-07, FEDEA.
    • Handle: RePEc:fda:fdaddt:2022-07
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mara Barschkett, 2022. "Age-specific Effects of Early Daycare on Children's Health," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 2028, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    2. Mara Barschkett & Laia Bosque-Mercader, 2023. "Building Health across Generations: Unraveling the Impact of Early Childcare on Maternal Health," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 2059, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    3. Barschkett, Mara & Bosque-Mercader, Laia, 2024. "Building Health across Generations: Unraveling the Impact of Early Childcare on Maternal Health," VfS Annual Conference 2024 (Berlin): Upcoming Labor Market Challenges 302394, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    4. Mara Barschkett, 2022. "Age-specific Effects of Early Daycare on Children’s Health," Berlin School of Economics Discussion Papers 0005, Berlin School of Economics.
    5. Barschkett, Mara, 2023. "Age-specific Effects of Early Daycare on Children's Health," VfS Annual Conference 2023 (Regensburg): Growth and the "sociale Frage" 277588, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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