Working Paper: NBER ID: w21229
Authors: Melissa S. Kearney; Phillip B. Levine
Abstract: This paper investigates whether preschool children exposed to Sesame Street when it began in 1969 experienced improved educational and labor market outcomes subsequently. We exploit geographic variation in broadcast reception derived from technological limitations, including distance to a broadcast tower and UHF versus VHF transmission. We relate this variation to Census data on grade-for-age status, educational attainment, and labor market outcomes in 1980, 1990, and 2000, respectively. The results indicate that Sesame Street improved school readiness, particularly for boys and children living in economically disadvantaged areas. The estimated impact on ultimate educational attainment and labor market outcomes is inconclusive.
Keywords: Early Childhood Education; Sesame Street; Educational Outcomes; Labor Market Outcomes
JEL Codes: I24; J24
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Exposure to Sesame Street (I24) | Educational outcomes (I21) |
| Exposure to Sesame Street (I24) | Improved educational performance (I24) |
| Educational outcomes (I21) | Labor market outcomes (J48) |
| Exposure to Sesame Street (I24) | Long-term educational attainment (I21) |
| Exposure to Sesame Street (I24) | Wages in adulthood (J31) |