Not Playing Favorites: Parents and the Value of Equal Opportunity

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Berry, James; Dizon-Ross, Rebecca; Jagnani, Maulik
• 署名单位: University System of Georgia; University of Georgia; University of Chicago; Tufts University; Tufts University
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.20220601
• 发表日期: 2025
• 页码: 117-160
• 关键词: programs evidence; preferences; birth; redistribution; investments; fairness; CHOICE

摘要

We conduct two experiments to identify the value parents place on equality of opportunity when investing in children. The experiments exogenously vary short-run returns to educational investments to identify the weight placed on equalizing opportunity (child-level investment) relative to maximizing returns (total household earnings) or to equalizing outcomes (child-level expected earnings). While parents in both experiments place some weight on maximizing returns, they also display a strong preference for equalizing opportunities and are willing to forgo 15-45 percent of their earnings to do so. Parents in higher-income countries also care about equalizing outcomes, while parents in lower-income countries do not. (JEL D63, J12, J13, O15)