Should Early Health Investments Work? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Complex Early-Childhood Intervention
通过一项爱尔兰早期干预项目的随机对照试验，发现该项目在儿童五岁前对健康资本影响有限，主要减少了四岁时的医院就诊次数，但对其他人力资本维度有较大效果。
Evidence on the impact of early intervention on childhood health is inconsistent. Using a randomized controlled trial, we examine the impact of an Irish early intervention program on the development of health capital in the first five years of life. The treatment provides intensive parenting supports including home visits and parenting classes from pregnancy until school entry. Modest effects by age four are found, mainly driven by reduced hospital attendances attributed to improved earlier health. In sum, the program has limited effects on children's health capital in the short-run despite demonstrating large effects on other dimensions of human capital.