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Maternal Life Satisfaction, Marital Status, and Child Skill Formation

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  • Dimitrios Nikolaou

    (Illinois State University, Department of Economics)

Abstract

I examine if the documented positive relationship between marriage and child outcomes represents a maternal life satisfaction effect. By treating life satisfaction and marital status as endogenous in the skill production process, I show that there is a distinct happiness and a distinct marriage effect; marriage increases cognitive skills and decreases conduct problems, while maternal happiness increases social and self-regulation skills to an equivalent of up to £ 38,000 per year. Thus, promoting healthy and happy marriages can be more effective than policies that promote marriage, and life satisfaction is an avenue through which non-married mothers can produce high quality children.

Suggested Citation

  • Dimitrios Nikolaou, 2017. "Maternal Life Satisfaction, Marital Status, and Child Skill Formation," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 43(4), pages 621-648, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:easeco:v:43:y:2017:i:4:d:10.1057_eej.2015.48
    DOI: 10.1057/eej.2015.48
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