Long-Term Impacts of Compensatory Preschool on Health and Behavior: Evidence from Head Start
利用项目资格规则导致的参与概率不连续性，估计了Head Start项目对儿童及青少年健康和行为问题的中期和长期影响，发现该项目减少了男孩的行为问题、健康问题、肥胖、抑郁、犯罪和闲散行为。
This paper provides new estimates of the medium- and long-term impacts of Head Start on health and behavioral problems. We identify these impacts using discontinuities in the probability of participation induced by program eligibility rules. Our strategy allows us to identify the effect of Head Start for the individuals in the neighborhoods of multiple discontinuities. Participation in the program reduces the incidence of behavioral problems, health problems, and obesity of male children at ages 12 and 13. It lowers depression and obesity among adolescents, and it reduces engagement in criminal activities and idleness for young adults.