Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP15032
Authors: Yona Rubinstein; Chinhui Juhn; Andrew Zuppann
Abstract: We integrate key insights from the early childhood literature into the quantity-quality model. In theory the adverse effect of shocks to family size diminishes with birth spacing for children already born and rises for newborn siblings. The effect on the older child therefore provides a credible proxy for the quantity-quality trade-off only at short spacing intervals. Using matched mother-child data from NLSY79, we find robust empirical support for this proposition. Cognitive scores of children already born drop following shocks to family size but only when siblings arrive at younger ages. Family resources also matter. The cognitive scores of children drop only in households in which the mother has below median AFQT score.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: J13; J24
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| shocks to family size (J12) | cognitive scores of firstborn children (C92) |
| younger siblings born at shorter intervals (J13) | cognitive scores of firstborn children (C92) |
| birth spacing (J13) | cognitive scores of firstborn children (C92) |
| younger siblings born at shorter intervals (J13) | parental investments in firstborn (J13) |
| cognitive scores of firstborn children (C92) | home environment score (D19) |
| mother's AFQT score (J45) | cognitive scores of firstborn children (C92) |
| family size shocks (J12) | parental investments in firstborn (J13) |
| timing of sibling births (J13) | cognitive scores of firstborn children (C92) |