Preschool education and infant health of the next generation: evidence from an expansion of public child care provision

This study estimates the impact of an expansion of public preschool education on health at birth of the next generation. The identification strategy uses a construction program of preschool facilities implemented in Uruguay by the mid-90s. I exploit variation across regions and over time in the number of facilities built. I find that extreme prematurity improves for first-born children of mothers that were exposed to the reform. When exploring potential mechanisms, I find suggestive evidence that exposed mothers have more preventive care during pregnancy and are more likely to live with the father of the child.