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Media And Human Capital Development: Can Video Game Playing Make You Smarter?

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  • Agne Suziedelyte

Abstract

type="main" xml:id="ecin12197-abs-0001"> According to the literature, video game playing can improve such cognitive skills as problem solving, abstract reasoning, and spatial logic. I test this hypothesis using the data from the Child Development Supplement to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The endogeneity of video game playing is addressed by using panel data methods and controlling for an extensive list of child and family characteristics. To address the measurement error in video game playing, I instrument children's weekday time use with their weekend time use. After taking into account the endogeneity and measurement error, video game playing is found to positively affect children's problem solving ability. The effect of video game playing on problem solving ability is comparable to the effect of educational activities. ( JEL I2, J13, J24)

Suggested Citation

  • Agne Suziedelyte, 2015. "Media And Human Capital Development: Can Video Game Playing Make You Smarter?," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 53(2), pages 1140-1155, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:53:y:2015:i:2:p:1140-1155
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ofer Malamud & Cristian Pop-Eleches, 2011. "Home Computer Use and the Development of Human Capital," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 126(2), pages 987-1027.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Palsson, Craig, 2017. "Smartphones and child injuries," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 200-213.
    2. Sandra L. Hofferth & David S. Bickham & Jeanne Brooks-Gunn & Pamela E. Davis-Kean & Wei-Jun Jean Yeung, 2018. "Contributions of Research Based on the PSID Child Development Supplement," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 680(1), pages 97-131, November.
    3. Suziedelyte, Agne, 2021. "Is it only a game? Video games and violence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 105-125.
    4. Shu Hu & Zheng Mu, 2020. "Some Time is Better Spent than Other Time: Chinese Adolescents’ Time Use and Developmental Outcomes," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(5), pages 1739-1765, October.
    5. Ward, Michael R., 2018. "“Cutting class to play video games”," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 11-19.
    6. Black, Nicole & Jayawardana, Danusha & Heckley, Gawain, 2024. "Children’s time allocation and the socioeconomic gap in human capital," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    7. McNamee, Paul & Mendolia, Silvia & Yerokhin, Oleg, 2021. "Social media use and emotional and behavioural outcomes in adolescence: Evidence from British longitudinal data," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • 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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