Parenting Home Visitation versus Cash Transfers for Preschoolers: An RCT in Rural Thailand

joint with Sartja Duangchaiyoosook,  Wasinee Jantorn, and Varunee Khruapradit

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impact of a weekly parenting home-visiting program based on the Reach Up curriculum and a cash transfer, using a randomized controlled trial in Thailand. The targeted children were preschoolers, with an average age of 36 months at the start of the parenting program. The intent-to-treat effect of the 10-month parenting program is positive and significant, with an effect size of approximately 0.13-0.16 SD, whereas the cash transfer is positive but insignificant. Treatment-on-the-treated effects reveal that each home visit improves child outcomes by 0.004 SD. The parenting program is more beneficial for younger and disadvantaged children, as measured by having special needs, less educated parents, lower household wealth, and fewer books at home, whereas the cash transfer is more effective for younger children, children with special needs, and boys. 

Keyword: parenting; home visiting; cash transfers; early childhood; parental investment; disadvantaged children

Working paper version as of June 2, 2026. Online Appendix. Data.

Roles of Parental Risk and Time Preferences in Parental Investment and Aspirations

joint with Sartja Duangchaiyoosook and Suparee W. Boonmanunt

Abstract

This paper examines how parents' risk and time preferences shape their parental investment and aspirations for children's education and occupations, using a longitudinal survey conducted in rural Thailand. We jointly estimate risk and time preference parameters based on economic theory, using incentivized experiments and incorporating heterogeneous individual background consumption. The first key finding is that parents view parental investment as a risky activity from the early childhood stage onward. Second, parents value later investments more than earlier ones. Third, parents perceive achieving educational success and pursuing a STEM career as risky endeavors for their children. This paper also finds that children with divorced parents tend to receive less parental investment, and their parents expect less from them. 

Keyword: parental investment; education aspiration; occupation aspiration; risk preferences; time preferences; incentivized experiment; early childhood

Working paper version as of May 15, 2026. Online Appendix. Data.

A Randomized Evaluation of an On-Site Training for Kindergarten Teachers in Rural Thailand

joint with Sartja Duangchaiyoosook,  Wasinee Jantorn, and Varunee Khruapradit

Abstract

This study evaluates the effectiveness of intensive and hands-on on-site training for preschool teachers using a randomized controlled trial in rural Thailand. The main finding is that the intervention led to an increase in the effectiveness of the classroom in terms of children’s cognitive skills by almost 50 percent relative to the control group. The on-site training intervention is cost-effective, costing 32.7 USD per student. Further investigation reveals that its specificity regarding the teaching approach or curriculum and detailed weekly teaching plans could be critical to its success.

Keyword: teacher training; teacher professional development; early childhood; school readiness; on-site training; randomized controlled trial

Working paper version as of January 31, 2024

Heterogeneous Returns to Education across Hukou-Migration Subgroups in China

joint with Juan Huang

Abstract

This paper uses the China Household Income Project 2018 dataset to estimate returns to education for various Hukou-migration subgroups. We overcome the endogeneity problem of years of schooling using an instrument based on the Great Expansion of Higher Education policy. Our results indicate that the highest returns are for urban native workers (27.4%), followed by urban Hukou-converted (25.0%) and rural native workers (14.7%). In contrast, the returns to education for rural-urban migrant workers are insignificant. Further analyses suggest that Hukou conversion significantly increased the returns to education for rural-origin people by enabling them access to better job opportunities.

Keyword: returns to education; hukou system; migration; china

Working paper version as of November 13, 2023

Impact of parenting styles on cognitive and non-cognitive skills of young children: Evidence from rural Thailand. 

joint with Ahmad Shabir Faizi and Weerachart T. Kilenthong

Review of Economics of the Household, 2026. 

Working Paper version. 

Intergenerational Transmission of Time Preferences: Evidence from Rural Thailand. 

joint with Suparee W. Boonmanunt, Wasinee Jantorn, Varunee Khruapradit and Weerachart T. Kilenthong

Labour Economics, Volume 97, December 2025, 102781

Working Paper version. Online Appendix.