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Birth Order in the Very Long-Run: Estimating Firstborn Premiums between 1850 and 1940

Author

Listed:
  • Cools, Angela

    (Cornell University)

  • Grooms, Jared

    (Brigham Young University)

  • Karbownik, Krzysztof

    (Emory University)

  • O'Keefe, Siobhan

    (Davidson College)

  • Price, Joseph

    (Brigham Young University)

  • Wray, Anthony

    (University of Southern Denmark)

Abstract

The nineteenth-century American family experienced tremendous demographic, economic, and institutional changes. By using birth order effects as a proxy for family environment, and linked census data on men born between 1835 and 1910, we study how the family's role in human capital production evolved over this period. We find firstborn premiums for occupational outcomes, marriage, and fertility that are similar across census waves. Our results indicate that the returns to investments in the family environment were stable over a long period.

Suggested Citation

  • Cools, Angela & Grooms, Jared & Karbownik, Krzysztof & O'Keefe, Siobhan & Price, Joseph & Wray, Anthony, 2024. "Birth Order in the Very Long-Run: Estimating Firstborn Premiums between 1850 and 1940," IZA Discussion Papers 16953, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16953
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    Keywords

    birth order; parental investments; occupational outcomes; intergenerational mobility; marriage; fertility;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • N30 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - General, International, or Comparative

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