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Reaping the Rewards Later: How Education Improves Old-Age Cognition in South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Nikolov, Plamen

    (Harvard Institute for Quantitative Social Science)

  • Yeh, Steve

    (Columbia University)

Abstract

Cognitive performance in late adulthood is critical for better welfare and understanding the causes of human capital depreciation in old age is increasingly crucial in aging societies. Using data from South Africa, we study how early life education affects cognition, a component of human capital critical to decision-making, in late adulthood. We show that an extra year of schooling improves memory and general cognition performance. We detect heterogeneous treatment effects by gender: the effects are stronger among women. We explore mechanisms and show that a more supportive social environment, improved health habits, and reduced stress levels are likely mediators for the beneficial effects of increased educational attainment on old-age cognition.

Suggested Citation

  • Nikolov, Plamen & Yeh, Steve, 2022. "Reaping the Rewards Later: How Education Improves Old-Age Cognition in South Africa," IZA Discussion Papers 15432, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15432
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    File URL: https://docs.iza.org/dp15432.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. James J. Heckman & Alan B. Krueger, 2005. "Inequality in America: What Role for Human Capital Policies?," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262582600 edited by Benjamin M. Friedman, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nikolov, Plamen & Hossain, Md Shahadath, 2023. "Do pension benefits accelerate cognitive decline in late adulthood? Evidence from rural China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 594-617.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    human capital; educational attainment; cognitive performance; developing countries; aging; sub-Saharan Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • F63 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Economic Development
    • N37 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Africa; Oceania

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