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Timing of School Entry and Personality Traits in Adulthood

Author

Listed:
  • Barabasch, Anton

    (Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany)

  • Cygan-Rehm, Kamila

    (Dresden University of Technology)

  • Leibing, Andreas

    (Dresden University of Technology)

Abstract

This paper investigates the long-run consequences of a later school entry for personality traits. For identification, we exploit the statutory cutoff rules for school enrollment in Germany within a regression discontinuity design. We find that relatively older school starters have persistently lower levels of neuroticism in adulthood. This effect is entirely driven by women, which has important implications for gender gaps in the labor market, as women typically score significantly higher on neuroticism at all stages of life, which puts them at a disadvantage. Our results suggest that family decisions regarding compliance with enrollment cutoffs may have lasting implications for gender gaps in socio-emotional skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Barabasch, Anton & Cygan-Rehm, Kamila & Leibing, Andreas, 2024. "Timing of School Entry and Personality Traits in Adulthood," IZA Discussion Papers 17387, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17387
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sarah Dahmann & Silke Anger, 2014. "The Impact of Education on Personality: Evidence from a German High School Reform," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 658, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    2. James Heckman & Rodrigo Pinto & Peter Savelyev, 2013. "Understanding the Mechanisms through Which an Influential Early Childhood Program Boosted Adult Outcomes," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(6), pages 2052-2086, October.
    3. Kaestner, Robert, 2016. "Do `Skills Beget Skills'? Evidence on the effect of kindergarten entrance age on the evolution of cognitive and non-cognitive skill gaps in childhoodAuthor-Name: Lubotsky, Darren," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 194-206.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    school starting age; personality; socio-emotional skills; education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • D19 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Other

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