Born to Lead? The Effect of Birth Order on Noncognitive Abilities

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Black, Sandra E.; Gronqvist, Erik; Ockert, Bjorn
• 署名单位: University of Texas System; University of Texas Austin; IZA Institute Labor Economics
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/REST_a_00690
• 发表日期: 2018-05
• 页码: 274-286
• 关键词: sibling sex composition; educational-attainment; FAMILY; intelligence; CHILDREN; personality; earnings; BEHAVIOR; outcomes; weight

摘要

We study the effect of birth order on personality using Swedish population data. Earlier-born men are more emotionally stable, persistent, socially outgoing, willing to assume responsibility, and able to take initiative than later borns. Firstborn children aremore likely to bemanagers and to be in occupations requiring leadership ability, social ability, and Big Five personality traits.We find a significant role for the sex composition within the family. When investigating possible mechanisms, we find that negative effects of birth order are driven by postnatal environmental factors. We also find evidence of lower parental human capital investments in later-born children.