Working Paper: NBER ID: w23259
Authors: Michael J. Kottelenberg; Steven F. Lehrer
Abstract: Although an increasing body of research promotes the development of universal early education and care programs, little is known about the extent to which these programs affect gender gaps in academic achievement and other developmental outcomes. Analyzing the introduction of universal highly-subsidized child care in Quebec, we first demonstrate that there are no statistically significant gender differences in the average effect of access to universal child care on child outcomes. However, we find substantial heterogeneity in policy impacts on the variance of developmental and behavioral scores across genders. Additionally, our analysis reveals significant evidence of differential parenting practices by gender in response to the introduction of the policy. The analysis is suggestive that the availability of subsidized child care changed home environments disproportionately, and may be responsible for the growing gender gaps in behavioral outcomes observed after child care is subsidized.
Keywords: Child Care; Gender Differences; Developmental Outcomes
JEL Codes: I28; J13; J16
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Access to subsidized child care (J13) | Declines in motor and social development scores for boys (I24) |
| Access to subsidized child care (J13) | Increases in hyperactivity and inattention scores for boys (I24) |
| Access to subsidized child care (J13) | Declines in emotional anxiety and separation anxiety scores for girls (I24) |
| Access to subsidized child care (J13) | Increased variance and kurtosis of developmental scores for girls (C46) |
| Access to subsidized child care (J13) | Changes in parenting practices by gender (J12) |
| Changes in parenting practices by gender (J12) | Girls experience lower levels of positive interactions and consistency from parents (I24) |
| Changes in parenting practices by gender (J12) | Boys face significant changes in family dysfunction (J12) |
| Access to subsidized child care (J13) | Exacerbation of existing gender gaps in behavioral outcomes (J16) |