Long-Term Effects of Preschool Subsidies and Cash Transfers on Child Development: Evidence from Uganda

Abstract

Shortly before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, three-to-five-year-old children in Uganda were randomly offered a subsidy to attend full-day preschool for one year. A second treatment group received cash transfers that were at least as large as the cost of the preschool subsidy provided, while a third group received both. Children who attended preschool prior to the pandemic have better anthropometric outcomes three years later. We do not find persistent effects on their learning outcomes. Effects of cash transfers on child development are similar to those of the preschool subsidy.