TY  - JOUR
AU  - Heckman,James J.
TI  - Schools, Skills, and Synapses
JF  - National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series
VL  - No. 14064
PY  - 2008
Y2  - June 2008
UR  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w14064
L1  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w14064.pdf
N1  - Author contact info:
James J. Heckman
Department of Economics
The University of Chicago
1126 E. 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
Tel: 773/702-0634
Fax: 773/702-8490
E-Mail: jjh@uchicago.edu
AB  - This paper discusses (a) the role of cognitive and noncognitive ability in shaping adult outcomes, (b) the early emergence of differentials in abilities between children of advantaged families and children of disadvantaged families, (c) the role of families in creating these abilities, (d) adverse trends in American families, and (e) the effectiveness of early interventions in offsetting these trends. Practical issues in the design and implementation of early childhood programs are discussed.
ER  -