TY - JOUR T1 - Preschool and Parental Response in a Second Best World: JF - Journal of Human Resources JO - J Hum Resour DO - 10.3368/jhr.53.2.1215-7581R1 SP - 1215-7581R1 AU - Adrien Bouguen AU - Deon Filmer AU - Karen Macours AU - Sophie Naudeau Y1 - 2017/02/17 UR - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2017/02/13/jhr.53.2.1215-7581R1.abstract N2 - Interventions targeting early childhood hold promise for reducing the intergenerational transmission of poverty. Results from a randomized evaluation of a preschool construction program in Cambodia suggest caution. Overall impacts on early childhood outcomes are small and insignificant. Impacts on cognition are negative for the cohort with highest program exposure, with the largest negative effects among children of poorer and less educated parents. The results are explained by substitution from primary to preschool, and differences in demand responses to preschools between more and less educated parents. Context, program specifics, and behavioral responses, can hence lead to perverse effects of well-intentioned interventions. ER -