Reducing Inequality through Dynamic Complementarity: Evidence from Head Start and Public School Spending | Zendy

Rucker C. Johnson | Zendy; C. Kirabo Jackson | Zendy

AI Assistant Blog Pricing

Home ZAIA Blog

Open Access

Reducing Inequality through Dynamic Complementarity: Evidence from Head Start and Public School Spending

Author(s) -

Rucker C. Johnson,

C. Kirabo Jackson

Publication year - 2019

Publication title -

american economic journal economic policy

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 7.868

H-Index - 62

eISSN - 1945-7731

pISSN - 1945-774X

DOI - 10.1257/pol.20180510

Subject(s) - head start , earnings , complementarity (molecular biology) , poverty , demographic economics , economics , inequality , educational attainment , labour economics , public spending , psychology , economic growth , political science , finance , developmental psychology , mathematical analysis , mathematics , biology , genetics , politics , law

We compare the adult outcomes of cohorts who were differentially exposed to policy-induced changes in Head Start and K–12 spending, depending on place and year of birth. IV and sibling-difference estimates indicate that, for poor children, these policies both increased educational attainment and earnings, and reduced poverty and incarceration. The benefits of Head Start were larger when followed by access to better-funded schools, and increases in K–12 spending were more efficacious when preceded by Head Start exposure. The findings suggest dynamic complementarities, implying that early educational investments that are sustained may break the cycle of poverty. (JEL H52, H75, I21, I26, I28, I32, I38)

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.

Having issues? You can contact us here

Accelerating Research