Free school meals and cognitive ability: Evidence from China's student nutrition improvement plan
研究中国学生营养改善计划对认知能力的影响，发现该计划提高了数学成绩，但对语文成绩影响不显著，且对中学生和弱势家庭儿童效果更大。
The China Student Nutrition Improvement Plan (SNIP) covers 40.6 million students in the compulsory education stage, accounting for 42% of all students enrolled in rural compulsory education in 2021. This paper utilizes the county-by-county rollout of the SNIP and estimates the effect of this nutritional intervention on students' cognitive outcomes. We find that SNIP increases math test scores but has a statistically insignificant effect on verbal achievement. The effect is greater for middle school students and children from disadvantaged families. The SNIP affects the cognitive performance of students by improving their health status, increasing school attendance, fostering good study habits, raising educational expectations, and improving the human capital of peers.