Date of Award

2025

First Advisor

Chris Coggins

Second Advisor

Amanda Landi

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between China's free school lunch program and student cognitive outcomes, using data from the China Education Panel Survey (2013-2015), Employing Ordinary Least Squares, Quantile Regression, and Difference-in-Differences, the analysis finds no consistent average effect overall. However, further analysis indicates that the association between program participation and outcomes varies across subgroups: girls, students who self-reported poor health or lower cognitive scores, and those at urban-periphery schools are less likely to experience cognitive benefits with program participation. These heterogenous relationships not only reflect structural challenges such as food insecurity, financial hardship, and health burdens among the most vulnerable groups but also raise concerns about the program's limitations, which may include inadequate responsiveness to subgroup needs. While future studies are needed to confirm causation, these findings highlight the importance of addressing both systemic and programmatic barriers to improve policy effectiveness.

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