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Research ArticleArticle

The Impact of Family Composition on Educational Achievement

Stacey H. Chen, Yen-Chien Chen and Jin-Tan Liu
Published online before print April 12, 2018, 0915-7401r1rev; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.54.1.0915.7401R1
Stacey H. Chen
Stacy H. Chen is an associate Professor of Economics at National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS). Yen-Chien Chen is an associate professor, of Economics at National Chi-Nan University, Taiwan. Jin-Tan Liu is a professor of Economics at National Taiwan University and NBER.
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Yen-Chien Chen
Stacy H. Chen is an associate Professor of Economics at National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS). Yen-Chien Chen is an associate professor, of Economics at National Chi-Nan University, Taiwan. Jin-Tan Liu is a professor of Economics at National Taiwan University and NBER.
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Jin-Tan Liu
Stacy H. Chen is an associate Professor of Economics at National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS). Yen-Chien Chen is an associate professor, of Economics at National Chi-Nan University, Taiwan. Jin-Tan Liu is a professor of Economics at National Taiwan University and NBER.
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Abstract

Parents preferring sons tend to go on having more children until a boy is born, and to concentrate investment in boys for a given number of children (sibsize). Thus, having a brother may affect a child’s education in two ways: an indirect effect by keeping sibsize lower and a direct rivalry effect where sibsize remains constant. We estimate the direct and indirect effects of a next brother on the first child’s education conditional on potential sibsize. We address endogenous sibsize using twins. We find new evidence of sibling rivalry and gender bias that cannot be detected by conventional methods.

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Journal of Human Resources: 60 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 60, Issue 3
1 May 2025
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The Impact of Family Composition on Educational Achievement
Stacey H. Chen, Yen-Chien Chen, Jin-Tan Liu
Journal of Human Resources Apr 2018, 0915-7401r1rev; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.54.1.0915.7401R1

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The Impact of Family Composition on Educational Achievement
Stacey H. Chen, Yen-Chien Chen, Jin-Tan Liu
Journal of Human Resources Apr 2018, 0915-7401r1rev; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.54.1.0915.7401R1
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