Effects of Multigenerational Exposure to Early-Life Advantage: Lessons from a Primate Study

Amanda M. Dettmer, James J. Heckman, Juan Pantano, Victor Ronda and Stephen J. Suomi

Journal of Political Economy, 2026, vol. 134, issue 1, 285 - 312

Abstract: This paper uses three decades of data on rhesus monkeys to investigate the multigenerational effects of early-life advantage. Monkeys and their offspring are both randomly assigned to be reared together or apart from their mothers. For the first time, we document the intergenerational complementarity of early-life advantage, where the benefits of maternal rearing are present only for offspring of mothers who were themselves mother reared. This illustrates the intergenerational dynamics of social advantage and how the value of an intervention can depend on the experiences of the previous generation. Our paper demonstrates how studies of primates can inform human development.

Date: 2026
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