RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Human Capital Development
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 1120-11342R1
DO 10.3368/jhr.1120-11342R1
A1 Mitchell, Mark
A1 Favara, Marta
A1 Porter, Catherine
A1 Sánchez, Alan
YR 2023
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2023/06/01/jhr.1120-11342R1.abstract
AB We estimate a dynamic model of socio-emotional skill development between ages 8-22 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.