Socioeconomic Status and Inequalities in Children's IQ and Economic Preferences

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Falk, Armin; Kosse, Fabian; Pinger, Pia; Schildberg-Horisch, Hannah; Deckers, Thomas
• 署名单位: University of Bonn; University of Bonn; University of Munich; University of Cologne; Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-3808
• DOI: 10.1086/714992
• 发表日期: 2021
• 页码: 2504-2545
• 关键词: labor-market returns; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL; HIGHER DISCOUNT RATES; time-preferences; risk-aversion; personality-traits; PARENTAL INVESTMENT; cognitive skills; delayed rewards; childhood

摘要

This paper explores inequalities in IQ and economic preferences between children from families of high and low socioeconomic status (SES). We document that children from high-SES families are more intelligent, patient, and altruistic as well as less risk seeking. To understand the underlying mechanisms, we propose a framework of how SES, parental investments, as well as maternal IQ and preferences influence a child's IQ and preferences. Our results indicate that disparities in the level of parental investments hold substantial importance. In light of the importance of IQ and preferences for behaviors and outcomes, our findings offer an explanation for social immobility.