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Parental Skills, Assortative Mating, and the Incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder

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  • N. Meltem Daysal
  • Todd E. Elder
  • Judith K. Hellerstein
  • Scott A. Imberman
  • Chiara Orsini

Abstract

We use rich administrative data from Denmark to assess medical theories that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heritable condition transmitted through underlying parental skills. Positing that occupational choices reflect skills, we create two separate occupation-based skill measures and find that these measures are associated with ASD incidence among children, especially through the father’s side. We also assess the empirical relevance of assortative mating based on skill, concluding that intertemporal changes in assortative mating explain little of the increase in ASD diagnoses in recent decades.

Suggested Citation

  • N. Meltem Daysal & Todd E. Elder & Judith K. Hellerstein & Scott A. Imberman & Chiara Orsini, 2021. "Parental Skills, Assortative Mating, and the Incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder," NBER Working Papers 28652, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:28652
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. David J. Deming, 2017. "The Growing Importance of Social Skills in the Labor Market," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 132(4), pages 1593-1640.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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