The Economic Value of Childhood and Adolescent Socio-Emotional SkillsISER Internal Seminars

This research estimates models of the relationship between early skill measures and later outcomes. We use uniquely wide-ranging measures on child behaviours at ages 10 and 16, teen occupational interests, and later life outcomes, such as earnings, education, and occupational tasks. We use several waves from the British Cohort Study (BCS, 1970). Our factor analytic approach suggests that age-10 socio-emotional traits have 4 dimensions: ‘Inattentiveness’, ‘Aggressiveness’, ‘Inhibition’, and ‘Shyness’. At age 16, we obtain an additional factor associated with teen social attainment, ‘Socialization’. We find that all age-10 socio-emotional traits but Aggressiveness, are associated with lower earnings and these returns are partially mediated by occupational task sorting. We find significant gender differences in the returns to inhibition, shyness, and socialization, particularly for labour market outcomes. Finally, teen occupational interests have significant effects on occupational task sorting, e.g., ‘Practical/Science’ into high technical jobs. Our estimates are consistent through a variety of specifications and sample sizes, and account for error measurement correction. 

Presented by:

Paul Garcia Hinojosa

Date & time:

14 Dec 2022 12:30 pm - 14 Dec 2022 13:30 pm

Venue:

ISER Seminar Room


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