A behavioral economics analysis of the participation in early childhood development social programs promoted by civil societies in Mexico.

Publisher: Public Library of Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101285081 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1932-6203 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 19326203 NLM ISO Abbreviation: PLoS One Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: San Francisco, CA : Public Library of Science

Child Nutrition Disorders* ; Economics, Behavioral*; Child ; Child Care ; Child Development ; Child, Preschool ; Economics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mexico

Based on a behavioral economics (BE) approach, we analyzed the decision to participate in an early childhood development (ECD) program implemented in Mexico by a non-governmental organization. We conducted a literature review and a qualitative study of four localities participating in the ECD program. Situated in the state of Oaxaca, these communities are characterized by high and very high levels of social marginalization. From May 20 to 30, 2019, we collected primary data through semi-structured interviews (n = 30) and focus groups (n = 7) with a total of 61 informants (51 women and 10 men). We then performed an inductive systematic analysis of the data to identify documented cognitive bias associated with the decisions of individuals to participate and remain in or abandon social programs. The interviewees were living in conditions of poverty, facing difficulties in meeting even their most basic needs including food. Program participants attached far greater weight to incentives such as the basic food basket than to the other benefits offered by the program. The four localities visited maintained traditional views of domestic roles and practices, particularly regarding child-rearing, where women were in charge of childcare, home care and food preparation. Problems linked to child malnutrition were a decisive factor in the decision of residents to participate and remain in the program. Testimonials gathered during the study demonstrated that the longer the mothers remained in the program, the more they understood and adopted the concepts promoted by the interventions. In contexts marked by economic vulnerability, it is essential that ECD programs create the necessary conditions for maximizing the benefits they offer. Our analysis suggests that cognitive load and present bias were the biases that most severely affected the decision-making capacity of beneficiaries. Therefore, considering loss aversion and improving the management of incentives can help policymakers design actions that "nudge" people into making the kinds of decisions that contribute to their well-being.
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Am Psychol. 2018 Jan;73(1):26-46. (PMID: 29345485)
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Apr 11;15(4):. (PMID: 29641437)
J Consult Clin Psychol. 2013 Apr;81(2):196-205. (PMID: 22289132)
Acad Pediatr. 2014 Sep-Oct;14(5):456-62. (PMID: 24816426)
J Hum Resour. 2018 Spring;53(2):330-355. (PMID: 29805181)
Annu Rev Psychol. 2016;67:339-61. (PMID: 26253542)
Milbank Q. 2012 Mar;90(1):107-34. (PMID: 22428694)
J Exp Anal Behav. 1984 Nov;42(3):435-52. (PMID: 16812401)
J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015 Nov;115(11):1798-807. (PMID: 26014476)
Lancet. 2017 Jan 7;389(10064):77-90. (PMID: 27717614)
Curr Opin Psychol. 2015 Oct;5:78-84. (PMID: 26213711)
Matern Child Health J. 2013 May;17(4):581-5. (PMID: 22618489)
Science. 2014 May 30;344(6187):998-1001. (PMID: 24876490)
JAMA Pediatr. 2013 Jul;167(7):673-4. (PMID: 23645188)
Annu Rev Econom. 2014 Aug;6:663-688. (PMID: 25520759)
Health Promot Int. 2019 Jun 1;34(3):616-623. (PMID: 29579194)
Urban Educ (Beverly Hills Calif). 2015 Oct;50(7):870-896. (PMID: 26417116)
Am J Prev Med. 2016 May;50(5 Suppl 1):S13-S19. (PMID: 27102853)

Date Created: 20220330 Date Completed: 20220414 Latest Revision: 20231103

20240104

PMC8967024

10.1371/journal.pone.0265389

35353841