Essays on the Economics of Child Protection

Child maltreatment is disconcertingly prevalent and has severe and enduring consequences on children’s outcomes across the lifecycle. Using a mix of observational and quasi-experimental methods in economics, this thesis examines the causes and consequences of child maltreatment, social inequities in the child protection system, and the role of selected schooling policies in reducing children’s exposure to maltreatment and its associated harms. The insights contributed by the three chapters of this thesis are relevant for the design of future policies that aim to prevent maltreatment and improve the lives of children who are impacted by this particular adversity.