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Speaker:
Philipp Ager (University of Mannheim)

Froebel's Gifts: How the Kindergarten Movement Changed the American Economy
^{(with Francesco Cinnirella)}

Abstract: Nineteenth-century social reformers promoted the establishment of kindergartens as a remedy for the problems associated with industrialization and immigration. Using newly-collected data on historical kindergarten statistics, we evaluate the impact that the roll-out of the first kindergartens in American cities had on families. We find that women with immigrant background exposed to kindergartens significantly reduced fertility. Their offspring at age 10-15 were more likely to attend school, they worked less, and as adults, they had fewer children themselves. Exposure to kindergartens also helped children and mothers of non-English-speaking households acquiring English proficiency, illustrating the importance of kindergartens for social integration.

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