Human Capital Development: New Evidence on the Production of Socio-Emotional Skills

Mark Mitchell, Marta Favara, Catherine Porter and Alan Sanchez

Journal of Human Resources, 2025, vol. 60, issue 4, 1175-1216

Abstract: We estimate a dynamic model of socio-emotional skill development between ages eight and 22 for a Peruvian cohort born in 1994. At age eight there is no wealth gradient, in contrast to cognitive skills. However, by age 12, inequalities emerge and widen through age 19, driven by differential household investments, and cross-productivity with cognitive skills. In early adulthood, we separate socio-emotional skills into two distinct domains—social skills and task effectiveness—that evolve differently and are differently correlated with risky behaviors, such as smoking or taking drugs. Unequal initial household resources perpetuate inequality across generations through cognitive and task effectiveness skills.

JEL-codes: C38 J13 J24 O15 O54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.1120-11342R1
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Related works:
Working Paper: Human Capital Development: New Evidence on the Production of Socio-emotional Skills (2022)
Working Paper: Human Capital Development: New Evidence on the Production of Socio-Emotional Skills (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:60:y:2025:i:4:p:1175-1216

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