The Intergenerational Transmission of Cognitive and Noncognitive Abilities

Erik Grönqvist, Björn Öckert and Jonas Vlachos

Journal of Human Resources, 2017, vol. 52, issue 4, 887-918

Abstract: We study the intergenerational transmission of cognitive and noncognitive abilities using population data and correct for measurement error in abilities using two sets of instruments. The results show that previous estimates are biased downward and that once measurement error is corrected for, the correlation in noncognitive ability is close to that of cognitive ability. By considering both parents, intergenerational ability correlations account for a substantial portion of the sibling correlation. Using adoptees, we find that the social impact of maternal abilities is more important than paternal abilities. Children’s educational attainment and labor market outcomes are strongly related to parents’ cognitive and noncognitive abilities.

Date: 2017
Note: DOI: 10.3368/jhr.52.4.0115-6882R1
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Related works:
Working Paper: The Intergenerational Transmission of Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Abilities (2011)
Working Paper: The intergenerational transmission of cognitive and non-cognitive abilities (2010)
Working Paper: The intergenerational transmission of cognitive and non-cognitive abilities (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:52:y:2017:i:4:p:887-918

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