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Human Capital Development: New Evidence on the Production of Socio-Emotional Skills

Author

Listed:
  • Mitchell, Mark

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Favara, Marta

    (University of Oxford)

  • Porter, Catherine

    (Lancaster University)

  • Sanchez, Alan

    (Group for the Analysis of Development (GRADE))

Abstract

We estimate a dynamic model of multidimensional human capital development from childhood through adolescence and into early adulthood for a Peruvian cohort born in 1994. We exploit multiple measures of cognitive and socio-emotional skills and a latent factor structure to estimate flexible skills production functions between the ages of 8 and 22. We focus particularly on socio-emotional skill development, and provide the first estimates of such skill production over such a long period in a developing country context. In the last period, when individuals reach adulthood at age 22, we show that socio-emotional skills can be separated into two distinct domains - social skills and task effectiveness skills- which develop differently especially with regard to time use and cross-productivity with cognition. We find that individuals with higher task effectiveness are less likely to have engaged in risky behaviours such as smoking, taking drugs, and engaging with gangs.

Suggested Citation

  • Mitchell, Mark & Favara, Marta & Porter, Catherine & Sanchez, Alan, 2020. "Human Capital Development: New Evidence on the Production of Socio-Emotional Skills," IZA Discussion Papers 13804, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
  • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13804
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Dinarte Diaz,Lelys Ileana & Egana-delSol,Pablo & Martinez A.,Claudia, 2022. "Socioemotional Skills Development in Highly Violent Contexts : Measurements and Impacts," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9957, The World Bank.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    dynamic factor analysis; child development; human capital; socio-emotional skills;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C38 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Classification Methdos; Cluster Analysis; Principal Components; Factor Analysis
    • 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
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O54 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Latin America; Caribbean

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