Parenthood, risk attitudes and risky behavior

Katja Görlitz and Marcus Tamm

Journal of Economic Psychology, 2020, vol. 79, issue C

Abstract: This study analyzes how risk attitudes change when individuals experience the major life event of becoming a parent by using longitudinal data for a large and representative sample of individuals from Germany. The analysis uses a survey-based measure of risk aversion. The estimation is based on an individual fixed effects model similar to an event study. On average, men and women experience a considerable increase in risk aversion around the time of first childbirth. This increase already starts as early as two years before they become parents, it is largest shortly after childbirth and it disappears when the child becomes older. When analyzing risky choices, the results indicate that risky labor market behavior remains unaffected by parenthood.

Keywords: Parenthood; Childbirth; Risk attitudes; Occupational choice; Gender differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D81 D91 J13 J16 J62 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:79:y:2020:i:c:s0167487018306597

DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2019.102189

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