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Parenting with Style: Altruism and Paternalism in Intergenerational Preference Transmission

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  • Zilibotti, Fabrizio
  • Doepke, Matthias

Abstract

We develop a theory of intergenerational transmission of preferences that rationalizes the choice between alternative parenting styles (as set out in Baumrind 1967). Parents maximize an objective function that combines Beckerian altruism and paternalism towards children. They can affect their children's choices via two channels: either by influencing children's preferences or by imposing direct restrictions on their choice sets. Different parenting styles (authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive) emerge as equilibrium outcomes, and are affected both by parental preferences and by the socioeconomic environment. Parenting style, in turn, feeds back into the children's welfare and economic success. The theory is consistent with the decline of authoritarian parenting observed in industrialized countries, and with the greater prevalence of more permissive parenting in countries characterized by low inequality.

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  • Zilibotti, Fabrizio & Doepke, Matthias, 2014. "Parenting with Style: Altruism and Paternalism in Intergenerational Preference Transmission," CEPR Discussion Papers 10029, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:10029
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Intergenerational preference transmission; Occupational choice; Parenting style; Paternalism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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