TY - JOUR T1 - Birth Order and Human Capital Development JF - Journal of Human Resources JO - J Hum Resour SP - 359 LP - 392 DO - 10.3368/jhr.49.2.359 VL - 49 IS - 2 AU - Monique De Haan AU - Erik Plug AU - José Rosero Y1 - 2014/03/31 UR - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/49/2/359.abstract N2 - In this paper we examine the effect of birth order on human capital development in Ecuador. Using family fixed effects models we find positive and persistent birth order effects; earlier-born children stay behind in their human capital development from infancy to adolescence. Turning to potential mechanisms, we find that earlier-born children receive less quality time from their mothers. Additionally, they are breastfed shorter. Poverty plays a key role in explaining these birth order patterns; we observe the largest birth order effects in poor and low-educated families, accompanied with reversed birth order effects in rich and high-educated families. ER -