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Life Skills Development of Teenagers through Spare-Time Jobs

Author

Listed:
  • Rune V. Lesner

    (Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University, Denmark)

  • Anna Piil Damm

    (Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University, Denmark)

  • Preben Bertelsen

    (Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences,, Aarhus University, Denmark)

  • Mads Uffe Pedersen

    (Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus University, Denmark)

Abstract

We set up an on-the-job learning model to explain how spare-time on-the-job training affects life skills formation of adolescents. We obtain causal estimates by exploiting variation between employed twins and estimation of a value-added model using full population Danish administrative data. We find that spare-time work experience has no effect on school absenteeism, reduces crime, increases school grades and the speed of enrollment into upper secondary education. We interpret our findings as evidence that the positive effect from on-the-job learning in spare-time jobs on life skill formation more than outweigh the potential negative consumption and time-use externalities of spare-time work.

Suggested Citation

  • Rune V. Lesner & Anna Piil Damm & Preben Bertelsen & Mads Uffe Pedersen, 2018. "Life Skills Development of Teenagers through Spare-Time Jobs," Economics Working Papers 2018-09, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.
    • Handle: RePEc:aah:aarhec:2018-09
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Student employment; Spare-time jobs; Teenagers; Youth; Character skills; Life skills; Human capital; Crime; Juvenile Delinquency; Risky behavior; Educational attainment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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