Determinants of child development in the CPAPI birth cohort

• Grant number: 25/15326-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Agreement: Maria Cecília Souto Vidigal Foundation
• Principal Investigator: Naercio Aquino Menezes Filho
• Grantee: Gabriel Alves de Sampaio Morais
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa (Insper). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Company: Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa (Insper)
• Associated research grant: 19/12553-0 - Brazilian Center for Early Child Development, AP.PCPE

Abstract

This project aims to investigate the determinants of early childhood development, with a focus on identifying risk and protective factors that influence child well-being across diverse socioeconomic contexts. Using longitudinal data from a cohort study, the research will apply advanced quantitative methods from applied economics to estimate the causal effects of various exposures-such as poverty, food insecurity, access to services, and family environment characteristics-on cognitive, emotional, and physical development outcomes. The analysis seeks not only to understand the mechanisms shaping early development but also to provide evidence to inform the design and evaluation of effective public policies aimed at reducing inequalities from the earliest stages of life. The project is situated within the fields of development economics and social policy evaluation, contributing relevant empirical evidence to support strategies that promote equitable opportunities in early childhood.