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Parental investment and the intergenerational transmission of economic preferences

Author

Listed:
  • Zumbühl, M.A.

    (Macro, International & Labour Economics)

  • Dohmen, T.J.

    (Macro, International & Labour Economics)

  • Pfann, G.A.

    (Quantitative Economics, Organisation,Strategy & Entrepreneurship)

Abstract

We study empirically whether there is scope for parents to shape the economic preferences and attitudes of their children through purposeful investments. We exploit information on the risk and trust attitudes of parents and their children, as well as rich information about parental efforts in the upbringing of their children from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study. Our results show that parents who invest more in the upbringing of their children are more similar to them with respect to risk and trust attitudes and thus transmit their own attitudes more strongly. The results are robust to including variables on the relationship between children and parents, family size, and the parents’ socioeconomic background.

Suggested Citation

  • Zumbühl, M.A. & Dohmen, T.J. & Pfann, G.A., 2013. "Parental investment and the intergenerational transmission of economic preferences," ROA Research Memorandum 011, Maastricht University, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA).
    • Handle: RePEc:unm:umaror:2013011
    DOI: 10.26481/umaror.2013011
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