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Effects of School Starting Age on the Family

Author

Listed:
  • Rasmus Kløve Landersø
  • Helena Skyt Nielsen
  • Marianne Simonsen

Abstract

This paper investigates intrafamily spillovers from the focal child’s timing of school start. We first show how school starting age affects the timing of subsequent educational transitions. Exploiting quasi-random variation in school starting age induced by date of birth, we then document effects on parental outcomes. At child age seven, for example, being one year older at school start increases maternal employment by four percentage points. At child age 15, it increases the likelihood that parents still cohabit by eight percentage points. Our results also indicate that later school start for the focal child improves older siblings’ academic performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Rasmus Kløve Landersø & Helena Skyt Nielsen & Marianne Simonsen, 2020. "Effects of School Starting Age on the Family," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 55(4), pages 1258-1286.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:55:y:2020:i:4:p:1258-1286
    Note: DOI: 10.3368/jhr.55.4.1117-9174R1
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Fumarco, Luca & Hartmann, Sven A. & Principe, Francesco, 2024. "A Neglected Determinant of Eating Behaviors: Relative Age," IZA Discussion Papers 16920, IZA Network @ LISER.
    2. Zhang, Huafeng & Holden, Stein T., 2024. "Sibling Spillover Effects and Educational Outcomes in Ghana and Niger," CLTS Working Papers 2/24, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Centre for Land Tenure Studies.
    3. Cygan-Rehm, Kamila & Westphal, Matthias, 2024. "School starting age and the gender pay gap over the life cycle," Ruhr Economic Papers 1115, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    4. Selina Gangl & Martin Huber, 2025. "From homemakers to breadwinners? How mandatory kindergarten affects maternal labour market outcomes," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 38(2), pages 1-23, June.
    5. David N. Figlio & Krzysztof Karbownik & Umut Özek, 2023. "Sibling Spillovers May Enhance the Efficacy of Targeted School Policies," NBER Working Papers 31406, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Yoosik Shin, 2023. "School starting age policy and students' risky health behaviors," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(11), pages 2446-2459, November.
    7. Yoosik Shin & Do Won Kwak, 2026. "Does a child’s early schooling affect mother’s mental well-being? Evidence from Australia," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 269-302, March.
    8. Attar, Itay & Cohen-Zada, Danny & Elder, Todd E., 2024. "Measuring and Correcting Monotonicity Bias: The Case of School Entrance Age Effects," IZA Discussion Papers 17088, IZA Network @ LISER.
    9. Cavallo, Mariagrazia & Dhuey, Elizabeth & Fumarco, Luca & Halewyck, Levi & ter Meulen, Simon, 2026. "The Economics of Age at School Entry: Insights from Evidence and Methods," IZA Discussion Papers 18373, IZA Network @ LISER.
    10. Gurantz, Oded & Hurwitz, Michael & Smith, Jonathan, 2020. "Sibling effects on high school exam taking and performance," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 534-549.
    11. Barabasch, Anton & Cygan-Rehm, Kamila & Leibing, Andreas, 2026. "Timing of school entry and personality traits in adulthood," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    12. Cools, Sara, 2025. "Older sisters and younger siblings: How is school performance affected by sibling gender?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    13. Fumarco, Luca & Hartmann, Sven A. & Principe, Francesco, 2026. "Influence of within-class age differences on adolescents’ eating behaviors," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    14. Houmark, Mikkel Aagaard & Jørgensen, Cecilie Marie Løchte & Kristiansen, Ida Lykke & Gensowski, Miriam, 2024. "Effects of extending paid parental leave on children’s socio-emotional skills and well-being in adolescence," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    15. Ziege, Elena, 2025. "Passport to progress: The effects of birthright citizenship on siblings’ education," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    16. Julio Cáceres-Delpiano & Eugenio Giolito, 2024. "School starting age and the impact on school admission," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 67(1), pages 225-251, July.
    17. Johansen, Eva Rye, 2021. "Relative age for grade and adolescent risky health behavior," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    18. Sara Mikkelsen & Noemi Peter, 2024. "More dads at home, more girls in maths‐intensive studies? Evidence from a parental leave reform," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 91(364), pages 1201-1221, October.

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