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On the Family Origins of Human Capital Formation: Evidence from Donor Children

Author

Listed:
  • Lundborg, Petter

    (Lund University)

  • Plug, Erik

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Rasmussen, Astrid Würtz

    (Aarhus University)

Abstract

We introduce a novel strategy to study the intergenerational transmission of human capital, net of genetic skill transfers. For this purpose, we use unique data on children conceived through sperm and egg donation in IVF treatments in Denmark. Because the assignment of donors is not selective, the intergenerational human capital estimates allow for a causal nurture interpretation. Once we take account of genes, we find that only the education of mothers matters: the association between mother's education and child test scores is significant and large, whereas the association between father's education and child test scores is insignificant and practically zero.

Suggested Citation

  • Lundborg, Petter & Plug, Erik & Rasmussen, Astrid Würtz, 2021. "On the Family Origins of Human Capital Formation: Evidence from Donor Children," IZA Discussion Papers 14708, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14708
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Eric A. Hanushek & Babs Jacobs & Guido Schwerdt & Rolf van der Velden & Stan Vermeulen & Simon Wiederhold, 2021. "Where Do STEM Graduates Stem From? The Intergenerational Transmission of Comparative Skill Advantages," CESifo Working Paper Series 9388, CESifo.
    2. Bingley, Paul & Cappellari, Lorenzo & Tatsiramos, Konstantinos, 2023. "On the Origins of Socio-Economic Inequalities: Evidence from Twin Families," IZA Discussion Papers 16520, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Rita Dias Pereira & Pietro Biroli & Titus Galama & Stephanie von Hinke & Hans van Kippersluis & Cornelius A. Rietveld & Kevin Thom, 2022. "Gene-Environment Interplay in the Social Sciences," Papers 2203.02198, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2022.
    4. Molly Paterson & Jaai Parasnis & Michelle Rendall, 2022. "Gender, Income, and Numeracy Test Scores," Monash Economics Working Papers 2022-02, Monash University, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    human capital; intergenerational mobility; donor children;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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