Working Paper: NBER ID: w26411
Authors: Krzysztof Karbownik; Umut Zek
Abstract: Using a regression discontinuity design generated by school-entry cutoffs and school records from an anonymous district in Florida, we identify externalities in human capital production function arising from sibling spillovers. We find positive spillover effects from an older to a younger child in less affluent families and negative spillover effects from a younger to an older child in more affluent families. These results are consistent with direct spillovers dominating in economically disadvantaged families and with parental reinforcement in more affluent families.
Keywords: sibling spillovers; educational achievement; regression discontinuity design
JEL Codes: D13; I20; J13
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Sibling interactions differ based on socioeconomic status (I24) | Sibling spillover effects (J12) |
| Older siblings born just after the school entry cutoff (J13) | Younger siblings' test scores (C92) |
| Younger siblings' advantage of being born after the school entry cutoff (C92) | Older siblings' test scores (I24) |