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The effect of the fall of the Berlin Wall on children’s noncognitive skills

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  • Andrew Gill
  • Kristin J. Kleinjans

Abstract

The noncognitive skill of conscientiousness has been linked to favourable labour market and health outcomes. But how is conscientiousness affected by events that happen in childhood? We investigate the effects of negative parental selection and economic and social upheaval on conscientiousness in adulthood using data from the German Socioeconomic Panel (SOEP). Our identification strategy exploits the steep drop in fertility that occurred in the former East Germany following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the socialist regime. Using an event study analysis and a difference-in-differences estimator with the former West Germany as a control group, we find that women conceived in East Germany in the three-year period following the fall the Berlin Wall are less conscientious as adults than women born after this period and before the fall of the Berlin Wall. We interpret our findings as evidence of a detrimental effect of negative parental selection on women’s conscientiousness. In contrast, we find no effects of negative parental selection on the conscientiousness of men.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Gill & Kristin J. Kleinjans, 2020. "The effect of the fall of the Berlin Wall on children’s noncognitive skills," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(51), pages 5595-5612, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:52:y:2020:i:51:p:5595-5612
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2020.1770189
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    Cited by:

    1. Iryna Hayduk & Maude Toussaint‐Comeau, 2022. "Determinants of noncognitive skills: Mediating effects of siblings' interaction and parenting quality," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 40(4), pages 677-694, October.
    2. Kristin J. Kleinjans & Andrew Gill, 2022. "Intergenerational Transmission of Disadvantage: Negative Parental Selection, Economic Upheaval, and Smoking," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 799-814, December.

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