Human Capital Investments in Children: A Comparative Analysis of the Role of Parent-Child Shared Time in Selected Countries

Eva Österbacka (), Joachim Merz and Cathleen D. Zick ()
Additional contact information
Eva Österbacka: Abo Akademi University
Cathleen D. Zick: University of Utah

No 5084, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Parents invest in their children's human capital in several ways. We investigate the extent to which the levels and composition of parent-child time varies across countries with different welfare regimes: Finland, Germany and the United States. We test the hypothesis of parent-child time as a form of human capital investment in children using a propensity score treatment effects approach that accounts for the possible endogenous nature of time use and human capital investment. Result: There is considerable evidence of welfare regime effects on parent-child shared time. Our results provide mixed support for the hypothesis that non-care related parent-child time is human capital enriching. The strongest support is found in the case of leisure time and eating time.

Keywords: parent-child time; comparative research; welfare regimes; Finland; Germany; USA; treatment effects; propensity score matching (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D1 H43 J22 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 35 pages
Date: 2010-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hap, nep-hrm and nep-lab
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Human capital investments in children –A comparative analysis of the role of parent-child shared time in selected countries (2012)
Working Paper: Human Capital Investments in Children: A Comparative Analysis of the Role of Parent-Child Shared Time in Selected Countries (2010)
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