The US and European countries have experienced dramatic changes in family formation in recent decades, with more parents in a partnership choosing to have a child without marrying first. As this fall out from marriage is predominantly a low socio-economic status phenomenon, it can lead to an exacerbation of inequalities in child human capital formation if, as suggested by the theoretical literature, gains from marriage improve outcomes of children. Using the population of Norwegian children born between 1997-2001 we use the marginal treatment effect framework to identify whether and why marital status of parents at birth drives middle childhood and adolescent outcomes. The results suggest that marriage increases specialization within the couple but this does not result in higher test score for children on average. However, there is a positive treatment effect of marriage on children test score among wealthier families – whereby an increase in wealth raises both selection into marriage and the gains from marriage for children.
Presented by:
Gloria Moroni (University of Venice)
Date & time:
5 Jun 2024 12:30 pm - 5 Jun 2024 13:30 pm
Venue:
2N2.4.16 (to join us online, please contact the seminar series organisers at iserseminars@essex.ac.uk)
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