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Universal family background effects on education across and within societies

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Grätz
  • Kieron J. Barclay

    (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany)

  • Øyvind Wiborg
  • Torkild H. Lyngstad
  • Aleksi Karhula
  • Jani Erola
  • Patrick Präg
  • Thomas Laidley
  • Dalton Conley

Abstract

The extent to which siblings resemble each other measures the total impact of family background in shaping life outcomes. We study sibling similarity in cognitive skills, school grades, and educational attainment in Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We also compare sibling similarity by parental education and occupation within these societies. The comparison of sibling correlations across and within societies allows us to characterize the omnibus impact of family background on education across social landscapes. We find similar levels of sibling similarity across social groups. Across countries, we find only small differences. In addition, rankings of countries in sibling resemblance differ across the three educational outcomes we study. We conclude that sibling similarity is largely similar across advanced, industrialized countries and across social groups within societies contrary to theories that suggest large cross-national differences and variation of educational mobility across social groups within societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Grätz & Kieron J. Barclay & Øyvind Wiborg & Torkild H. Lyngstad & Aleksi Karhula & Jani Erola & Patrick Präg & Thomas Laidley & Dalton Conley, 2019. "Universal family background effects on education across and within societies," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2019-007, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:wpaper:wp-2019-007
    DOI: 10.4054/MPIDR-WP-2019-007
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    Cited by:

    1. Patrick Präg & Seongsoo Choi & Christiaan Monden, 2020. "The sibsize revolution in an international context: Declining social disparities in the number of siblings in 26 countries," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 43(17), pages 461-500.

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    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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