Month-of-Birth Effects on Skills and Skill Formation

Shintaro Yamaguchi (), Hirotake Ito () and Makiko Nakamuro ()
Additional contact information
Shintaro Yamaguchi: University of Tokyo
Hirotake Ito: CyberAgent Inc.
Makiko Nakamuro: Keio University

No 15895, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We estimate month-of-birth effects on cognitive and noncognitive skills, as well as factors relevant to skill formation. Our estimates indicate that younger students in a given grade cohort have lower cognitive and noncognitive skills. To shed light on the underlying mechanisms, we also examine children's time use and interpersonal relationships. We find evidence of compensatory investment in cognitive skills by younger children, however, they are also more likely to have poor-quality relationships with their classmates and teachers, which may harm the long-term development of noncognitive skills. Our findings on skill formation have implications for efficiency and equity.

Keywords: noncognitive skill; relative age effect; cognitive skill (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I20 I24 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 78 pages
Date: 2023-01
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Published - published in: Labour Economics, 2023, 84, 102392

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