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Gender gaps in early childhood development in Latin America and the Caribbean

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  • Berlinski, Samuel
  • Sanz-de-Galdeano, Anna
  • Sóñora-Noya, Alba

Abstract

We examine gender gaps in early childhood cognitive and social-behavioral skills across several Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. Our study complements previous research focused on older children by analyzing the preschool period, a critical stage for lifelong human capital formation. We find that the female advantage commonly observed in school-aged children’s achievement, as well as in high school enrollment and completion in both high-income and LAC countries, is also frequently evident in early childhood within our sample of LAC countries. On average, girls outperform boys in various developmental measures and are less likely to exhibit externalizing behaviors. Furthermore, these gender gaps generally remain stable across the distributions of developmental outcomes. Unlike findings for older children in high-income countries, our results suggest that during early childhood in LAC, boys and girls do not show differential benefits from socioeconomic status or a more favorable home environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Berlinski, Samuel & Sanz-de-Galdeano, Anna & Sóñora-Noya, Alba, 2025. "Gender gaps in early childhood development in Latin America and the Caribbean," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:57:y:2025:i:c:s1570677x2500005x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2025.101472
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Early childhood development; Gender; Family disadvantage; Parental investments;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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