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Parents' Preferences, Parenting Styles and Children's Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Flavia Coda Moscarola

    (University of Eastern Piedmont and Collegio Carlo Alberto)

  • Daniela Del Boca

    (University of Turin and Collegio Carlo Alberto)

  • Giovanna Paladino

    (Museum of Savings)

Abstract

This paper examines the intergenerational transmission of preferences between parents and their children. Specifically, we analyse whether parents transmit patience, the propensity to save, reading habits, and conscientiousness to their children, and how specific parenting styles – i.e. indicators of their involvement in children’s education and their attitudes towards sharing financial information - play a role in such transmission. To study this link, we analyse the data from a representative survey of Italian households (parents with children 14-20 years of age) that we conducted in Italy in September 2022. Our results show a significant and positive relationship between parents’ and children’s preferences and that parenting styles act as moderators in the transmission of patience and conscientiousness between parents and children. A Sharing parenting style strengthens the transmission of patience mostly among children under the age of 18 and in households with an SES above the median, while a Present parenting style strengthens the transmission of conscientiousness mostly in households with an SES below the median. The strengthening effect of Present parenting style on reading habits is observed for mothers only.

Suggested Citation

  • Flavia Coda Moscarola & Daniela Del Boca & Giovanna Paladino, 2023. "Parents' Preferences, Parenting Styles and Children's Outcomes," Working Papers 2023-014, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    • Handle: RePEc:hka:wpaper:2023-014
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    intergenerational transmission; patience; propensity to save; reading; conscientiousness; parenting style;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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