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Parental risk attitudes and children's secondary school track choice

Author

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  • Heineck, Guido

    (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany)

  • Wölfel, Oliver

    (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany)

Abstract

"It is well known that individuals' risk attitudes are related to behavioral outcomes such as smoking, portfolio decisions, and also educational attainment, but there is barely any evidence on whether parental attitudes affect the educational attainment of dependent children. We add to this literature and examine whether parents' risk attitudes relate to children's secondary school track choice in Germany where tracking occurs at age ten and has a strong binding character. Our results indicate mainly no effects of paternal risk preferences but a strong negative impact of maternal risk aversion on children's enrollment in upper secondary school." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Suggested Citation

  • Heineck, Guido & Wölfel, Oliver, 2010. "Parental risk attitudes and children's secondary school track choice," IAB-Discussion Paper 201019, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
  • Handle: RePEc:iab:iabdpa:201019
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bundesrepublik Deutschland ; Auswirkungen ; Determinanten ; Eltern ; Risikobereitschaft ; Schulwahl ; Sekundarbereich ; 2004-2004;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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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