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Economic Uncertainty, Parental Selection and Children’s Educational Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Arnaud Chevalier

    (IZA; Royal Holloway, University of London; UCD Geary Institute for Public Policy, University College Dublin; ROA, Maastricht University; SFI, Copenhagen)

  • Olivier Marie

    (ROA, Maastricht University; CEP, London School of Economics, IZA; CESIfo, Munich)

Abstract

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, East Germany experienced an unprecedented temporary drop in fertility driven by economic uncertainty. Using various educational measures, we show that the children born during this nativity slump perform worse from an early age onwards. Consistent with negative selection, mothers who gave birth in that period had worse observed personal characteristics. These children are also less likely to have grown up within stable family environment. Investigating underlying mechanisms reveals that parental educational input and emotional attachment were also lower for these children. Finally, sibling analysis enable us to reject time of birth effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Arnaud Chevalier & Olivier Marie, 2015. "Economic Uncertainty, Parental Selection and Children’s Educational Outcomes," Working Papers 201506, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucd:wpaper:201506
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Parental selection; fertility; economic uncertainty; education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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