ECO343H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Capital Formation, Birth Weight, Instrumental Variable
Document Summary
This paper offers criticism regarding the hypothesis studied in the journal article, investing in early human development: timing and economic efficiency (2009), written by doyle, o. , Harmon, c. , heckman, j. and tremblay, r. the article discusses the evidence that links socioeconomic inequalities experienced early in life with inequalities that occur later in life. The authors then suggest that the optimal timing of early childhood intervention which ultimately reduces socioeconomic inequalities throughout an individual"s life is during the antenatal period (during pregnancy). The antenatal investment hypothesis is convincing because evidence from various independent studies agrees with the authors" claim that children"s early stages are the most crucial; therefore, early childhood development deserves investment from parents and policy makers. However, the hypothesis lacks in terms of testability. The authors admit that further evidence is required to attest for their hypothesis but gathering evidence is easier said than done.
