PSID birth cohorts 1950-1976, followed 1968-2015: Study of socioeconomic mobility & role of preK-12 education investments

This data archive include longitudinal nationally-representative data from the PSID of cohorts born between 1950 and 1976, and followed from 1968 through 2015. The study aims to analyze socioeconomic mobility and the role of preK-12 education investments. We compare the adult outcomes of cohorts who were differentially exposed to policy-induced changes in Head Start and K–12 spending, depending on place and year of birth. IV and sibling-difference estimates indicate that, for poor children, these policies both increased educational attainment and earnings, and reduced poverty and incarceration. The benefits of Head Start were larger when followed by access to better-funded schools, and increases in K–12 spending were more efficacious when preceded by Head Start exposure. The findings suggest dynamic complementarities, implying that early educational investments that are sustained may break the cycle of poverty.<br>This data archive only includes the extract created from the publicly-available PSID data (1968-2015). The PSID geocode data and external data sources on preK-12 spending linked with the PSID are not included here to protect confidentiality and adhere to IRB sensitive data contractual agreement.<br><br>The collection of PSID data used in this study was partly supported by the National Institutes of Health under grant number R01 HD069609 and R01 AG040213, and the National Science Foundation under award numbers SES 1157698 and 1623684.<br>