RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Human Capital Development
JF Journal of Human Resources
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 1175
OP 1216
DO 10.3368/jhr.1120-11342R1
VO 60
IS 4
A1 Mitchell, Mark
A1 Favara, Marta
A1 Porter, Catherine
A1 Sánchez, Alan
YR 2025
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/60/4/1175.abstract
AB We estimate a dynamic model of socio-emotional skill development between ages eight and 22 for a Peruvian cohort born in 1994. At age eight there is no wealth gradient, in contrast to cognitive skills. However, by age 12, inequalities emerge and widen through age 19, driven by differential household investments, and cross-productivity with cognitive skills. In early adulthood, we separate socio-emotional skills into two distinct domains—social skills and task effectiveness—that evolve differently and are differently correlated with risky behaviors, such as smoking or taking drugs. Unequal initial household resources perpetuate inequality across generations through cognitive and task effectiveness skills.