Does Birth Weight Influence Grit or Can Grit Be Learned After Birth?

Gillion, Leah

Does Birth Weight Influence Grit or Can Grit Be Learned After Birth?

Leah Gillion
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Leah Gillion: Princeton University

Working Papers from Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Research on Child Wellbeing.

Abstract: In recent studies, scholars have come to view grit as an essential component for success. This field has gained attention because it crosses the social economic spectrum and it is considered to be a learned characteristic. In this paper, I investigate the link between birth endowments and grit and the role parental investment plays in the development of non-cognitive skills. Using data from the Fragile Families Study, I find mixed results. Birth weight is associated with grit, when measured by teachers, but there is little association when measured by parents and the child. Furthermore, parental investment is associated with grit when measured by parents and the child, but there is no association when measured by teachers. This paper suggests that grit is a behavior that can be learned through parental investment, but the returns to parental investment in elementary school are not realized in the academic environment.

JEL-codes: I12 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-neu and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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https://fragilefamilies.princeton.edu/sites/fragilefamilies/files/wp17-21-ff.pdf

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pri:crcwel:wp17-21-ff

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