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The Socio-Economic Gradient in Children’s Test-Scores – A Comparison Between the U.S. and Denmark

Author

Listed:
  • Montgomery, Christopher Jamil de

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Sievertsen, Hans Henrik

    (University of Bristol and VIVE)

Abstract

This paper contributes to the debate on intergenerational mobility in the U.S. and Denmark by linking parental resources to differentials in cognitive development in primary school. Using U.S. survey data and Danish register data, we observe a socioeconomic gradient along the entire test score distribution in both countries, but the gradient is always largest in the U.S. Our findings show that a substantial socio-economic testscore gradient is present even in a Scandinavian welfare state. However, in light of the recent debate on similarities in intergenerational mobility between Denmark and the U.S., it is important to note that this socio-economic gradient is smaller in Denmark than the U.S.

Suggested Citation

  • Montgomery, Christopher Jamil de & Sievertsen, Hans Henrik, 2019. "The Socio-Economic Gradient in Children’s Test-Scores – A Comparison Between the U.S. and Denmark," Nationaløkonomisk tidsskrift, Nationaløkonomisk Forening, vol. 2019(1), pages 1-25.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:jdaecn:0012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rasmus Landersø & James J. Heckman, 2017. "The Scandinavian Fantasy: Sources of Intergenerational Mobility in Denmark and the US," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 119(1), pages 178-230, January.
    2. John Jerrim, 2012. "The Socio‐Economic Gradient in Teenagers' Reading Skills: How Does England Compare with Other Countries?," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 33(2), pages 159-184, June.
    3. Nicholas W. Papageorge & Seth Gershenson & Kyung Min Kang, 2020. "Teacher Expectations Matter," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 102(2), pages 234-251, May.
    4. Hertz Tom & Jayasundera Tamara & Piraino Patrizio & Selcuk Sibel & Smith Nicole & Verashchagina Alina, 2008. "The Inheritance of Educational Inequality: International Comparisons and Fifty-Year Trends," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 7(2), pages 1-48, January.
    5. Beuchert, Louise V. & Nandrup, Anne B., 2018. "The Danish National Tests at a Glance," Nationaløkonomisk tidsskrift, Nationaløkonomisk Forening, vol. 2018(1), pages 1-37.
    6. Eric R. Nielsen, 2015. "The Income-Achievement Gap and Adult Outcome Inequality," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2015-41, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
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    Cited by:

    1. Andersen, Simon Calmar & Guul, Thorbjørn Sejr & Humlum, Maria Knoth, 2019. "Instruction Time, Information, and Student Achievement: Evidence from a Field Experiment," IZA Discussion Papers 12543, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Test scores; intergenerational mobility; inequality; test score gap;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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