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Skill Formation and the Trouble with Child Non-Cognitive Skill Measures

Author

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  • Del Bono, Emilia

    (ISER, University of Essex)

  • Kinsler, Josh

    (University of Georgia)

  • Pavan, Ronni

    (University of Rochester)

Abstract

Research on child skill formation and related policies typically rely on parent- reported measures of child non-cognitive skills. In this paper, we show that parental assessments of child non-cognitive skills are directly affected by the skills of the parents. We develop a dynamic model of child and parental skill formation that accounts for this contamination and show how standard estimates of the production of skills are affected. We then use our model to illustrate how contamination in parental measures of child non-cognitive skills affects estimates of child development policies that also directly affect parental skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Del Bono, Emilia & Kinsler, Josh & Pavan, Ronni, 2020. "Skill Formation and the Trouble with Child Non-Cognitive Skill Measures," IZA Discussion Papers 13713, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13713
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    28. Del Bono, Emilia & Kinsler, Josh & Pavan, Ronni, 2020. "A Note on the Importance of Normalizations in Dynamic Latent Factor Models of Skill Formation," IZA Discussion Papers 13714, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrew E. Clark & Conchita D'Ambrosio & Simone Ghislandi & Anthony Lepinteur & Giorgia Menta, 2021. "Maternal depression and child human capital: a genetic instrumental-variable approach," CEP Discussion Papers dp1749, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    2. Menta, Giorgia & Lepinteur, Anthony & Clark, Andrew E. & Ghislandi, Simone & D'Ambrosio, Conchita, 2023. "Maternal genetic risk for depression and child human capital," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    3. María Ladrón de Guevara Rodríguez & Oscar David Marcenaro-Gutierrez & Luis Alejandro Lopez-Agudo, 2023. "On the Gender Gap of Soft-Skills: the Spanish Case," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(1), pages 167-197, February.
    4. Del Bono, Emilia & Kinsler, Josh & Pavan, Ronni, 2020. "A Note on the Importance of Normalizations in Dynamic Latent Factor Models of Skill Formation," IZA Discussion Papers 13714, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Marcenaro-Gutierrez, O.D. & Lopez-Agudo, L.A. & Henriques, C.O., 2021. "Are soft skills conditioned by conflicting factors? A multiobjective programming approach to explore the trade-offs," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 18-40.
    6. Del Bono, Emilia & Etheridge, Ben & Garcia, Paul, 2024. "The economic value of childhood socio-emotional skills," ISER Working Paper Series 2024-01, Institute for Social and Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    children; human capital; dynamic factor analysis; measurement; policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C18 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Methodolical Issues: General
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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