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Grandparents, Moms, or Dads? Why Children of Teen Mothers Do Worse in Life

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Aizer
  • Paul Devereux
  • Kjell Salvanes

Abstract

We explore whether and why children born to teen mothers have worse outcomes later in life. Using Norwegian register data, we compare outcomes of children of sisters who have first births at different ages. We find that the causal effect of being a child of a teen mother is much smaller than that implied by the cross-sectional differences, but that there are probably still significant long-term, adverse consequences, especially for children born to the youngest teen mothers. We have information on fathers and find that negative selection of fathers of children born to teen mothers plays an important role in producing inferior child outcomes. These effects are particularly large for mothers from higher socioeconomic groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Aizer & Paul Devereux & Kjell Salvanes, 2022. "Grandparents, Moms, or Dads? Why Children of Teen Mothers Do Worse in Life," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 57(6), pages 2012-2047.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:57:y:2022:i:6:p:2012-2047
    Note: DOI: 10.3368/jhr.58.2.1019-10524R2
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    File URL: http://jhr.uwpress.org/cgi/reprint/57/6/2012
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bloem, Michael D. & Villero, Jesús, 2024. "College opportunity and teen fertility: Evidence from Ser Pilo Paga in Colombia," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    2. Zuleika Ferre & Patricia Triunfo & José‐Ignacio Antón, 2023. "Subdermal contraceptive implants and repeat teenage motherhood: Evidence from a major maternity hospital‐based program in Uruguay," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(12), pages 2679-2693, December.
    3. Borra, Cristina & González, Libertad & Patiño, David, 2023. "School Starting Age and Infant Health," IZA Discussion Papers 16676, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. María Solana Cucher & María Victoria Rosino & María Florencia Ruiz & Mariano Tommasi, 2024. "Conjugal Trajectories, Family Structures, and Social Vulnerability: A look at three generations of women in the City of Buenos Aires," Working Papers 171, Universidad de San Andres, Departamento de Economia, revised Nov 2024.
    5. Devon Gorry, 2023. "Consequences of Teenage Childbearing on Child Outcomes in the United States," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(1), pages 225-254, January.
    6. Bhalotra, Sonia & Clarke, Damian & Walther, Selma, 2022. "Women's Careers and Family Formation," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1120, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    7. Fredriksson, Peter & Huttunen, Kristiina & Öckert, Björn, 2022. "School starting age, maternal age at birth, and child outcomes," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    8. Anna Bárdits & Gábor Kertesi, 2024. "Family foster care or residential care: the impact of home environment on children raised in state care," CERS-IE WORKING PAPERS 2403, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
    9. Majid, Muhammad Farhan & Kaur, Opinder & Deolalikar, Anil B., 2024. "Beyond the biological prime: Deciphering the link between child survival and maternal age in India," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    10. Spearing, Joe, 2025. "Workplace autonomy and mental health," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    11. Eva Rye Johansen & Helena Skyt Nielsen & Mette Verner, 2024. "Teenage mothers and the next generation: benefits of delay?," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 451-476, June.
    12. Cristina Borra & Libertad González & David Patiño, 2024. "Mothers' school starting age and infant health," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(6), pages 1153-1191, June.
    13. Seshadri, Ananth & Zhou, Anson, 2022. "Intergenerational mobility begins before birth," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 1-20.
    14. Gagete-Miranda, Jessica & Meschi, Elena & Pagani, Laura, 2024. "Non-cognitive peer effects in early education: The influence of children born to teenage mothers on peers’ behavioral problems," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    15. Juanita Bloomfield, 2025. "Preschool education and infant health of the next generation: evidence from an expansion of public child care provision," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 68(4), pages 1973-2007, April.
    16. SmithBattle, Lee & Bekaert, Sarah & Phengnum, Wisitsri & Schneider, Joanne, 2024. "Untangling risky discourse with evidence: A scoping review of outcomes for teen mothers’ offspring," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • 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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