1. ¹Department of Economics, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 1725 State Street, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA. 608.785.5297. http://www.uwlax.edu/faculty/giddings/
2. ²American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA. E-mail: mmeurs@american.edu
3. ³The World Bank, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA. Phone: (202). 473-9181

Abstract

Preschool can contribute importantly to human capital development, especially among poor children. In socialist countries, preschool enrolment rates have declined since transition. We examine changed preschool enrolment in Kyrgyzstan. We evaluate demand- and supply-side explanations for changing enrolments, and use household survey data to develop a simple, logit model of preschool attendance. We find that access plays the most important role in attendance, despite an apparent excess capacity in preschools at the national level. However, economic and cultural factors also have a significant impact on household decisions to send a child to preschool.