Birth Order and Delinquency: Evidence from Denmark and Florida

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Breining, Sanni; Doyle, Joseph; Figlio, David N.; Karbownik, Krzysztof; Roth, Jeffrey
• 署名单位: Aarhus University; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); National Bureau of Economic Research; The Santa Fe Institute; Northwestern University; Emory University; State University System of Florida; University of Florida
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF LABOR ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0734-306X
• DOI: 10.1086/704497
• 发表日期: 2020
• 页码: 95-142
• 关键词: sibling sex composition; parental investments; sibship size; gender-gap; Child-care; QUALITY; time; achievement; quantity; HEALTH

摘要

Little is known about the role birth order plays in delinquency and adult crime outcomes that carry significant externalities. We use rich data sets from Denmark and Florida to examine these outcomes and explore potential mechanisms. Despite large environmental differences between the areas, we find remarkably consistent results: in families with two or more children, secondborn boys are 20%-40% more likely to be disciplined in school and enter the criminal justice system than are their firstborn male siblings. We rule out health at birth and school quality as mechanisms but find evidence for the role of parental time investment.