Born to Lead? The Effect of Birth Order on Noncognitive Abilities

Sandra Black, Erik Grönqvist and Björn Öckert
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Erik Grönqvist: Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy

The Review of Economics and Statistics, 2018, vol. 100, issue 2, 274-286

Abstract: We study the effect of birth order on personality using Swedish population data. Earlier-born men are more emotionally stable, persistent, socially outgoing, willing to assume responsibility, and able to take initiative than later borns. Firstborn children aremore likely to bemanagers and to be in occupations requiring leadership ability, social ability, and Big Five personality traits.We find a significant role for the sex composition within the family. When investigating possible mechanisms, we find that negative effects of birth order are driven by postnatal environmental factors. We also find evidence of lower parental human capital investments in later-born children.

Date: 2018
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Related works:
Working Paper: Born to Lead? The Effect of Birth Order on Non-Cognitive Abilities (2017)
Working Paper: Born to Lead? The Effect of Birth Order on Non-Cognitive Abilities (2017)
Working Paper: Born to lead? The effect of birth order on non-cognitive abilities (2016)
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