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Exploring socioeconomic-related inequality in children’s cognitive achievement in Peru

Author

Listed:
  • Emmanuel Ngoy

    (University of Minho)

  • Carla Sá

    (University of Minho
    CIPES)

  • Paula Veiga

    (University of Minho)

Abstract

This paper applies the concentration index to estimate socioeconomic-related inequality in language skills among children aged 5 to 15, using longitudinal data from Peru. We find the existence of socioeconomic-related inequality in language skills, starting from an early age and showing little change until adolescence, albeit dropping. The cognitive achievement regression estimates highlight the significant role of family socioeconomic status (SES) on children’s language performance. Our decomposition analysis strengthens this result, indicating parental SES as the major contributor to socioeconomic-related inequality in language skills, even after accounting for the lagged test scores. We further decompose the source of changes in socioeconomic-related inequality in language skills between ages 5 and 15, and show changes in household wealth inequality and the associated elasticity both contribute to changes in socioeconomic-related inequalities in language performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Emmanuel Ngoy & Carla Sá & Paula Veiga, 2024. "Exploring socioeconomic-related inequality in children’s cognitive achievement in Peru," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 22(3), pages 809-832, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joecin:v:22:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10888-023-09615-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10888-023-09615-4
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Language skills; Peru; Socioeconomic-related inequality; Concentration index;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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