Ready to Learn: The Role of Childcare Attendance on Children's School Outcomes in Italy

Abstract

This work investigates the casual effect of childcare attendance on children's school achievements. We analyse data about children's school outcomes in mathematics and language focusing on pupils attending second and fifth grade in Italian primary school in conjunction with data providing public childcare coverage at provincial level. Using IV identification strategy, we show that childcare attendance leads to better school outcomes and early investment in education boosts both mathematics and language skills. For both school grades our results highlight a positive and significant effect of childcare attendance on children's school achievements which does not dissipate over time.

Keywords: Early investment in education, childcare attendance, children's cognitive outcomes

JEL Classification: J13, I26, H75