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On the Family Origins of Human Capital Formation: Evidence from Donor Children

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  • Lundborg, Petter

    (Lund University)

  • Plug, Erik

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Rasmussen, Astrid Würtz

    (Aarhus University)

Abstract

We introduce a novel strategy to study the intergenerational transmission of human capital, net of genetic skill transfers. For this purpose, we use unique data on children conceived through sperm and egg donation in IVF treatments in Denmark. Because the assignment of donors is not selective, the intergenerational human capital estimates allow for a causal nurture interpretation. Once we take account of genes, we find that only the education of mothers matters: the association between mother's education and child test scores is significant and large, whereas the association between father's education and child test scores is insignificant and practically zero.

Suggested Citation

  • Lundborg, Petter & Plug, Erik & Rasmussen, Astrid Würtz, 2021. "On the Family Origins of Human Capital Formation: Evidence from Donor Children," IZA Discussion Papers 14708, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14708
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Pereira, Rita & Biroli, Pietro & von hinke, stephanie & Van Kippersluis, Hans & Galama, Titus & Rietveld, Niels & Thom, Kevin, 2022. "Gene-Environment Interplay in the Social Sciences," OSF Preprints d96z3, Center for Open Science.
    3. Rendall, Michelle & Parasnis, Jaai & Paterson, Molly, 2022. "Gender, Income, and Numeracy Test Scores," CEPR Discussion Papers 16895, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    4. Bingley, Paul & Cappellari, Lorenzo & Tatsiramos, Konstantinos, 2023. "On the Origins of Socio-Economic Inequalities: Evidence from Twin Families," IZA Discussion Papers 16520, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    intergenerational mobility; human capital; donor children;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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