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Locus of control and its intergenerational implications for early childhood skill formation

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  • Lekfuangfu, Warn N.
  • Cornaglia, Francesca
  • Powdthavee, Nattavudh
  • Warrinnier, Nele

Abstract

We propose a model in which parents have a subjective belief about the impact of their investment on the early skill formation of their children. This subjective belief is determined in part by locus of control (LOC), i.e., the extent to which individuals believe that their actions can influence future outcomes. Using a unique British cohort survey, we show that maternal LOC measured during the 1st trimester strongly predicts early and late child cognitive and noncognitive outcomes. Further, we utilize the variation in maternal LOC to improve the specification typically used in the estimation of parental investment effects on child development.

Suggested Citation

  • Lekfuangfu, Warn N. & Cornaglia, Francesca & Powdthavee, Nattavudh & Warrinnier, Nele, 2014. "Locus of control and its intergenerational implications for early childhood skill formation," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 59271, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:59271
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Locus of control; parental investment; human capital accumulation; early skill formation; ALSPAC;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General

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