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The Long-Term Cognitive and Socioeconomic Consequences of Birth Intervals: A Within-Family Sibling Comparison Using Swedish Register Data

Author

Listed:
  • Kieron J. Barclay

    (London School of Economics and Political Science
    Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
    Stockholm University)

  • Martin Kolk

    (Stockholm University
    Stockholm University
    Institute for Futures Studies)

Abstract

We examine the relationship between birth-to-birth intervals and a variety of mid- and long-term cognitive and socioeconomic outcomes, including high school GPA, cognitive ability, educational attainment, earnings, unemployment status, and receiving government welfare support. Using contemporary Swedish population register data and a within-family sibling comparison design, we find that neither the birth interval preceding the index person nor the birth interval following the index person are associated with any substantively meaningful changes in mid- or long-term outcomes. This is true even for individuals born before or after birth-to-birth intervals of less than 12 months. We conclude that in a contemporary high-income welfare state, there appears to be no relationship between unusually short or long birth intervals and adverse long-term outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Kieron J. Barclay & Martin Kolk, 2017. "The Long-Term Cognitive and Socioeconomic Consequences of Birth Intervals: A Within-Family Sibling Comparison Using Swedish Register Data," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 54(2), pages 459-484, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:demogr:v:54:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s13524-017-0550-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s13524-017-0550-x
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    Cited by:

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    2. Daniel Fellman & Richard Bränström & Agneta Herlitz, 2021. "Revisiting a basic question: does growing up in either female or male environment affect sex differences in academic strengths and occupational choices?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Rachel Dunifon & Kelly Musick & Paula Fomby, 2017. "Siblings and children's time use in the United States," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 37(49), pages 1611-1624.
    4. Joseph Molitoris & Kieron J. Barclay & Martin Kolk, 2018. "When birth spacing does and does not matter for child survival: an international comparison using the DHS," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2018-003, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    5. Joseph Molitoris & Kieron Barclay & Martin Kolk, 2019. "When and Where Birth Spacing Matters for Child Survival: An International Comparison Using the DHS," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 56(4), pages 1349-1370, August.
    6. Øystein Kravdal, 2019. "Taking birth year into account when analysing effects of maternal age on child health and other outcomes: The value of a multilevel-multiprocess model compared to a sibling model," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 40(43), pages 1249-1290.
    7. Kieron Barclay & Anna Baranowska-Rataj & Martin Kolk & Anneli Ivarsson, 2020. "Interpregnancy intervals and perinatal and child health in Sweden: A comparison within families and across social groups," Population Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 74(3), pages 363-378, September.
    8. Kieron J. Barclay & Martin Kolk, 2018. "Birth Intervals and Health in Adulthood: A Comparison of Siblings Using Swedish Register Data," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 55(3), pages 929-955, June.
    9. Kieron J. Barclay & Ken R. Smith, 2020. "The effects of birth spacing on health and socioeconomic outcomes across the life course: evidence from the Utah Population Database," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2020-038, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    10. Øystein Kravdal, 2020. "Are sibling models a suitable tool in analyses of how reproductive factors affect child mortality?," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 42(28), pages 777-798.
    11. Limor Gabay-Egozi & Lloyd Grieger & Natalie Nitsche, 2020. "In my brother’s footstep or shadow? Siblings’ compositional characteristics and gender differences in STEM major," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2020-031, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    12. Christopher D. Smith & Jonas Helgertz & Kirk Scott, 2019. "Time and Generation: Parents’ Integration and Children’s School Performance in Sweden, 1989–2011," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 35(4), pages 719-750, October.

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