Medium‐Run Impacts of Iron‐Fortified School Lunch on Anaemia, Cognition, and Learning Outcomes in India*
研究印度学校午餐铁强化项目对儿童健康和认知的因果效应，发现早期干预显著降低贫血率，但未改善认知和学习成绩，且对女孩效果较弱。
Abstract Using a phase‐in research design, we provide experimental evidence on the impacts of early versus late initiation of iron fortification in school lunch programmes on children's health and cognitive outcomes in India. We find higher haemoglobin levels and a lower likelihood of anaemia in the early treatment group that experienced 4 years of treatment, compared to the late treatment group that was exposed to one and a half years of treatment. Despite significant health gains, we do not find evidence for treatment effects on cognitive and educational outcomes. Heterogeneity analyses show evidence of gendered effects – the anaemia reduction is lower among females relative to males.