Absence of conflict of interest.
Citation
Bustelo, M. (2011). Three essays on investments in children's human capital (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/4837518.pdf
Highlights
- The study’s objective was to examine the impact of a Nicaraguan conditional cash transfer program, Red de Proteccion Social (RPS), on child work participation and school enrollment.
- The study was a randomized controlled trial that took place in Nicaragua. Data were obtained from a baseline and two follow-up surveys administered to treatment and control group households.
- The study found that the RPS program significantly increased school enrollment for targeted children by 18% in the first year post-intervention and 14% in the second year post-intervention. The study found no statistically significant relationships between RPS and work participation for targeted children.
- The quality of the causal evidence presented in this study is moderate because, although it was based on a randomized controlled trial with unknown attrition, the author demonstrated that the treatment and control groups were similar before the intervention. This means we have confidence that the estimated effects are attributable at least in part to Red de Proteccion Social, although other factors could also have contributed.
Intervention Examined
Red de Protección Social (RPS)
Features of the Intervention
The Nicaragua conditional cash transfer program was implemented in 2000-2002 as part of the Nicaragua’s Red de Proteccion Social (RPS) program that was funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank. The program was designed to provide an income supplement, reduce school dropout rates, and improve health for children. Three cash transfers were provided to include a food security transfer ($224 USD/year per household), which required monthly health education workshops and well child visits. The second was a school attendance transfer ($112 USD/year per household) requiring school for children ages 7-13, and finally, it included a school supplies transfer ($21 USD) contingent on school enrollment. Each household received the same amount of transfer dollars, regardless of the number of children in the home.
Features of the Study
The study was a randomized controlled trial in the Nicaraguan states of Madriz and Matagalpa. In these two states, 21 communities were randomly assigned to receive the intervention (conditional cash transfers) and 21 were randomly assigned to the control group. Communities were chosen based on an index that used information from the 1995 Census. In each community, 42 households were randomly selected using a census that occurred three months before the first evaluation, yielding a treatment group of 882 households and a control group with 882 households. Data were obtained from a baseline (pre-intervention) household survey conducted between August and September 2000, a follow-up household survey in October 2001 (after 11 months of cash transfers), and a final household survey in October 2002 (after 24 months of transfers). The study author examined the effects of the program on eligible children 7 to 13 years of age who had not completed the 4th grade. There were 2,867 children (1,343 females and 1,524 males) in the study sample. The authors used statistical models to compare the outcomes of treatment and control group members.
Findings
Employment/Child labor
- The study found no statistically significant relationships between RPS and work participation for targeted children.
Education (School participation/enrollment)
- The RPS program significantly increased school enrollment for targeted children by 18% in the first year post-intervention and 14% in the second year post-intervention.
Considerations for Interpreting the Findings
The study was a randomized controlled trial with 12% attrition over two years. The author indicates there were no differences in attrition between treatment and control groups, however, no additional information was provided on differential attrition, making it impossible to assess the validity of the experiment. In cases of high or unknown attrition, a study can receive a moderate causal evidence rating if the analysis controls for possible differences in background characteristics of the analytic treatment and control groups. The author established such baseline equivalency for 15 individual and household-level characteristics.
Causal Evidence Rating
The quality of the causal evidence presented in this study is moderate because, although it was based on a randomized controlled trial with unknown attrition, the author demonstrated that the treatment and control groups were similar before the intervention. This means we have confidence that the estimated effects are attributable at least in part to Red de Proteccion Social, although other factors could also have contributed.