RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Early Origins of Birth Order Differences in Children’s Outcomes and Parental Behavior
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 123
OP 156
DO 10.3368/jhr.53.1.0816-8177
VO 53
IS 1
A1 Jee-Yeon K. Lehmann
A1 Ana Nuevo-Chiquero
A1 Marian Vidal-Fernandez
YR 2018
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/53/1/123.abstract
AB We document birth order differences in cognitive and noncognitive outcomes and maternal behavior from birth to adolescence using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79). As early as age one, later-born children score lower on cognitive tests than their siblings, and the gap increases until school entry and remains statistically significant thereafter. Variations in parental behavior, such as cognitive stimulation by mothers, can explain a large portion of the birth order differences in cognitive abilities before school entry. Our findings suggest that broad shifts in parental behavior are plausible explanations for the observed birth order differences in education and labor market outcomes.