Universal Investments in Toddler Health: Learning from a Large Government Trial

Authors: The paper is written by Jennifer L. Baker, Lise G. Bjerregaard, Christian M. Dahl, Torben S. D. Johansen, Emil N. Sørensen, and Miriam Wüst.

Download: You can access the paper here or the earlier IZA Discussion Paper version here.

Code: You can find the code for the project here.

Abstract: Exploiting a 1960s government trial in Copenhagen, we study the long-run effects of preventive health care for toddlers. We combine administrative data with handwritten nurse records to document universal treatment take-up. Treated children enjoy a five percent of a standard deviation increase in a good adult health index. While initial trial cohorts experience positive health and labour market impacts, those are absent for the final cohorts. Impacts are largest for children with initial health disadvantage and females, and we identify childhood health improvements as a core mechanism. The heterogeneity of trial effects across individuals’ initial health status and cohorts documents that universal toddler care can alleviate health inequalities at low costs, and that the counterfactual policy environment matters.

Citing

If you would like to cite our paper, please use

@article{baker2026universal,
    title={Universal Investments in Toddler Health. Learning from a Large Government Trial},
    author={Baker, Jennifer L. and Bjerregaard, Lise G. and Dahl, Christian M. and Johansen, Torben S. D. and S{\o}rensen, Emil N. and W{\"u}st, Miriam},
    journal={The Economic Journal},
    pages={ueag057},
    year={2026},
    publisher={Oxford University Press},
    doi={10.1093/ej/ueag057}
}

or (as a reference to the earlier IZA Discussion Paper version)

@techreport{baker2023trial,
    title={Universal Investments in Toddler Health. Learning from a Large Government Trial},
    author={Baker, Jennifer and Bjerregaard, Lise and Dahl, Christian M and Johansen, Torben and S{\o}rensen, Emil and W{\"u}st, Miriam},
    institution={IZA Institute of Labor Economics},
    type={IZA Discussion Paper},
    number={16270},
    year={2023}
}