What determines adult cognitive skills?: Impacts of preschooling, schooling, and post-schooling experiences in Guatemala

Abstract

"Most investigations into the importance and determinants of adult cognitive skills assume that (1) they are produced primarily by schooling, and (2) schooling is statistically predetermined or exogenous. This study uses longitudinal data collected in Guatemala over 35 years to investigate production functions for adult cognitive skills—that is, reading-comprehension skills and nonverbal cognitive skills—as being dependent on behaviorally determined preschooling, schooling, and post-schooling experiences. We use an indicator of whether the child was stunted (child height-for-age Z-scoreHuman capital, cognitive skills, Stunting, work experience, Development, Education, Gender, Health and nutrition,