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Quantity versus Quality: Household structure, number of siblings, and educational attainment in the long nineteenth century

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  • Sarah Guilland Carmichael
  • Auke Rijpma
  • Lotte van der Vleuten

Abstract

This paper analyses the quantity-quality trade-off and other household-level influences on educational outcomes of children. Nineteenth and early-twentieth century census micro-data is used, providing material from Western and Eastern Europe, the USA and Canada. This is the time-frame of the demographic transition and the onset of modern economic growth; when the quantity-quality trade-off should be most important. Besides the number of siblings, other household features can be of influence as well, such as the gender composition, the inclusion of members outside the nuclear family and the position of women in the household. We find mixed evidence for the quantity-quality trade-off, as well as positive effects of the presence of (upwards) extended family members and parental, especially maternal, literacy.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah Guilland Carmichael & Auke Rijpma & Lotte van der Vleuten, 2015. "Quantity versus Quality: Household structure, number of siblings, and educational attainment in the long nineteenth century," Working Papers 0073, Utrecht University, Centre for Global Economic History.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucg:wpaper:0073
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    File URL: http://www.cgeh.nl/sites/default/files/WorkingPapers/cgehwp73_qqt.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Clark, Gregory & Cummins, Neil, 2016. "The Child Quality-Quantity Tradeoff, England, 1780-1880: A Fundamental Component of the Economic Theory of Growth is Missing," CEPR Discussion Papers 11232, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Le Bris, David, 2020. "Family Characteristics and Economic Development," MPRA Paper 105325, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    human capital; fertility; demographic transition; economic history;
    All these keywords.

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