题    目 ：Interactions as Investments: The Microdynamics and Measurement of Early Childhood Learning

嘉    宾 ：周 瑾 助理教授 香港城市大学

主持人 ：朱 喜 教授 上海交通大学安泰经济与管理学院

时   间 ：2024年4月17日(周三)14:00-15:30

地   点 : 上海交通大学徐汇校区安泰经济与管理学院A305

内容简介：
This paper uses novel experimental data from a widely-emulated early childhood home-visiting program implemented in China with high-frequency measurements to investigate the dynamics of skill formation. We show that home visiting interventions promoting child development promote quality interactions between home visitors and caregivers. We report non-parametric evidence consistent with dynamic complementarity–that early investment makes later investment more productive–that does not rely on arbitrary measures of skills. Based on this evidence, we formulate and estimate a dynamic stochastic learning model for multiple skills and quantify the sources of early life learning. Our model unites and extends two basic and widely-used psychometric models of learning and measurement: the IRT model and the BKT model. Using our model, we test the widely held assumption of the existence of constant unit measures of skill (“human capital”) that are comparable over levels of skills and across ages for latent language and cognitive skills. We find evidence supporting it for certain skill levels but not for all. Our stochastic growth model can explain the frequently observed phenomena of “fadeout” of skills over time for an individual.

演讲人简介：
Jin Zhou's primary fields are Applied Microeconomics, Applied Econometrics, and Development Economics. She currently focuses on research on the one of the largest early childhood interventions in the world: the China REACH project, especially on understanding the child skill development process, and designing and studying interventions aimed at accelerating the child learning process. She received her Ph.D. in economics from the University of Western Ontario and worked as postdotoral scholar at the University of Chicago.

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