Accidents Will Happen? Unintentional Childhood Injuries and the Effects of Child Care Regulations
Accidents are the leading cause of death and injury among children in the United States, far surpassing diseases as a health threat. We examine the effects of child care regulation on rates of accidental injury using both micro data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, and Vital Statistics mortality records. Estimates from both data sources suggest that requiring day care center directors to have more education reduces the incidence of unintentional injuries. An auxiliary analysis of the choice of child care mode confirms that these regulations are binding and that higher educational requirements tend to crowd some children out of care, as do regulations requiring frequent inspections of child care facilities and lower pupil-teacher ratios. Thus, regulation creates winners and losers: Some children benefit from safer environments, while those who are squeezed out of the regulated sector are placed at higher risk of injury.
Year of publication: |
2002-01-08
|
---|---|
Authors: | Currie, Janet ; Hotz, V. Joseph |
Institutions: | Northwestern University / University of Chicago Joint Center for Poverty Research, University of Chicago |
Saved in:
Saved in favorites
Similar items by person
-
Teenage Childbearing and Its Life Cycle Consequences: Exploiting a Natural Experiment
Hotz, V. Joseph, (1999)
-
The Earned Income Tax Credit and Labor Market Participation of Families on Welfare
Hotz, V. Joseph, (2001)
-
Hill, Carolyn J., (1999)
- More ...