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Maternal Beliefs and Long-Term Child Skill Development

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  • Greta Morando
  • Sonkurt Sen
  • Almudena Sevilla

Abstract

Parental beliefs significantly inŕuence parental investment in children, yet their long-term impact on child development remains underexplored. We examine the enduring effects of a generalized maternal belief about returns on investment (Locus of Control, LoC) on child development by using a value-added model in a nationally-representative cohort study. Maternal LoC positively shapes socio-emotional skills from early childhood to adolescence, while it has null and milder impacts on cognitive skills and academic outcomes, respectively. The socio-economic gradient in maternal LoC contributes to socio-economic disparities in children’s socio-emotional development. Parental investment acts as a mechanism through which parental beliefs affect child development.

Suggested Citation

  • Greta Morando & Sonkurt Sen & Almudena Sevilla, 2024. "Maternal Beliefs and Long-Term Child Skill Development," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2024_498, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:bon:boncrc:crctr224_2024_498
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    File URL: https://www.crctr224.de/research/discussion-papers/archive/dp498
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Parental beliefs; human capital development; locus of control; parental investment; socio-economic inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality

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