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Making it right? Social norms, handwriting and human capital

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  • Guber, Raphael

Abstract

Previous literature has found that, due to innate cognitive deficits, left-handers obtain less human capital and lower wages than right-handers. In this paper, I study the associations of forced right-hand writing of left-handed children ("switching") with later life outcomes. Using rich data from the German SOEP, I am able to distinguish between switched and non-switched left-handers. I find that switched left-handers perform equally well or even better in the labor market than right-handers. Only non-switched left-handers exhibit the deficits of left-handers found in earlier studies. I apply Gelbach's (2016) conditional decomposition to show that the observed differences in outcomes occur due to differential human capital accumulation, rather than cognitive or non-cognitive skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Guber, Raphael, 2019. "Making it right? Social norms, handwriting and human capital," Munich Reprints in Economics 78279, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:lmu:muenar:78279
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    Cited by:

    1. Brunori, Paolo & Davillas, Apostolos & Jones, Andrew M. & Scarchilli, Giovanna, 2022. "Model-based Recursive Partitioning to Estimate Unfair Health Inequalities in the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 543-565.
    2. Fabio Mariani & Marion Mercier & Luca Pensieroso, 2023. "Left-handedness and economic development," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 28(1), pages 79-123, March.

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