Empirical study about the effect of parental and child longevity on child education under COVID-19

This analysis estimated the effects of parental expectations of child longevity and changes in projected parental life expectancy associated with COVID-19 on parents’ attitudes toward their children’s education. It utilized the instrumental variable method using data from a survey questionnaire of working and child-rearing households examining their children’s education, longevity, and the COVID-19 situation. The findings indicate that the decrease in projected life expectancy due to COVID-19 had a negative and statistically significant effect on children’s education only in the sample where parents expected to receive significant support from their children in later life. In contrast, parental consciousness about child longevity had a positive and statistically significant effect on parental attitudes toward child education in both two sub-samples by the dummy of child support. The study’s primary finding was the identification of a difference in the effect on childhood education associated with a short-term shock in projected parental life expectancy caused by COVID-19. In cases where parents expect support from their children, those that believe COVID-19 will not affect their longevity will promote their children’s education to stabilize future living standards through the support of their well-educated children. Additionally, the positive effect of expected child longevity is a significant finding. These findings underscore the immediate need for a support program for people infected with COVID-19 that focuses on children’s education. Policies that promote the health and longevity of the next generation and raise parental awareness of the long-term stability of children’s education and living standards must be considered.