RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Parental Problem-drinking and Adult Children’s Labor Market Outcomes
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 454
OP 486
DO 10.3368/jhr.43.2.454
VO 43
IS 2
A1 Ana I. Balsa
YR 2008
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/43/2/454.abstract
AB Current estimates of the societal costs of alcoholism do not consider the impact of parental drinking on children. This paper analyzes the consequences of parental problem-drinking on children’s labor market outcomes in adulthood. Using the NLSY79, I show that having a problem-drinking parent is associated with longer periods out of the labor force, lengthier unemployment, and lower wages, in particular for male respondents. Increased probabilities of experiencing health problems and abusing alcohol are speculative forces behind these effects. While causality cannot be determined due to imprecise IV estimates, the paper calls for further investigation of the intergeneration costs of problem-drinking.