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Parental Skills, Assortative Mating, and the Incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Author

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  • Daysal, N. Meltem

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Elder, Todd E.

    (Michigan State University)

  • Hellerstein, Judith K.

    (University of Maryland)

  • Imberman, Scott A.

    (Michigan State University)

  • Orsini, Chiara

    (University of Sheffield)

Abstract

We use rich administrative data from Denmark to assess medical theories that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heritable condition transmitted through underlying parental skills. Positing that occupational choices reflect skills, we create two separate occupation-based skill measures and find that these measures are associated with ASD incidence among children, especially through the father's side. We also assess the empirical relevance of assortative mating based on skill, concluding that intertemporal changes in assortative mating explain little of the increase in ASD diagnoses in recent decades.

Suggested Citation

  • Daysal, N. Meltem & Elder, Todd E. & Hellerstein, Judith K. & Imberman, Scott A. & Orsini, Chiara, 2021. "Parental Skills, Assortative Mating, and the Incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder," IZA Discussion Papers 14227, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14227
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Richard Breen & Signe Andersen, 2012. "Educational Assortative Mating and Income Inequality in Denmark," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 49(3), pages 867-887, August.
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    3. Rania Gihleb & Kevin Lang, 2020. "Educational Homogamy and Assortative Mating Have Not Increased," Research in Labor Economics, in: Change at Home, in the Labor Market, and On the Job, volume 48, pages 1-26, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    4. David H. Autor & Frank Levy & Richard J. Murnane, 2003. "The skill content of recent technological change: an empirical exploration," Proceedings, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, issue Nov.
    5. King, M.D. & Fountain, C. & Dakhlallah, D. & Bearman, P.S., 2009. "Estimated autism risk and older reproductive age," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(9), pages 1673-1679.
    6. David J. Deming, 2017. "The Growing Importance of Social Skills in the Labor Market," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 132(4), pages 1593-1640.
    7. Emily Oster, 2005. "Sexually Transmitted Infections, Sexual Behavior, and the HIV/AIDS Epidemic," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 120(2), pages 467-515.
    8. Daley, David & Hojbjerg Jacobsen, Rasmus & Lange, Anne-Mette & Sorensen, Anders & Walldorf, Jeanette, 2015. "Costing Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Impact on the Individual and Society," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198745556.
    9. Helena Skyt Nielsen & Michael Svarer, 2009. "Educational Homogamy: How Much is Opportunities?," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 44(4).
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    11. Gary S. Becker, 1981. "A Treatise on the Family," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number beck81-1.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    parental skills; autism;

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics

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