The Intergenerational Transmission of Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Abilities

49 Pages Posted: 5 May 2012

See all articles by Erik Gronqvist

Erik Gronqvist

Department of Economics, Uppsala University

Björn Öckert

Uppsala University

Jonas Vlachos

Stockholm University - Department of Economics; Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)

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Date Written: October 4, 2011

Abstract

We study the intergenerational transmission of cognitive and non-cognitive abilities between fathers and sons using population-wide enlistment data. Measurement error bias in fathers‘ ability measures is corrected for using two sets of instruments. Results suggest that previous estimates of intergenerational ability correlations are biased downwards; once corrected for, the non-cognitive correlation is close to that of cognitive ability. We also predict mothers‘ abilities and find the mother-son cognitive ability correlation to be stronger than the father-son correlation. Finally, educational attainment and labor market outcomes of both sons and daughters are strongly related to both parents‘ cognitive and non-cognitive abilities.

Keywords: Intergenerational ability correlations, cognitive ability, non-cognitive ability, measurement error bias

JEL Classification: I0, J13, J24

Suggested Citation

Gronqvist, Erik and Öckert, Björn and Vlachos, Jonas, The Intergenerational Transmission of Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Abilities (October 4, 2011). IFN Working Paper No. 884, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2050393 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2050393

Erik Gronqvist (Contact Author)

Department of Economics, Uppsala University ( email )

Box 513
Uppsala, 751 20
Sweden

Björn Öckert

Uppsala University ( email )

Box 513
Uppsala, 751 20
Sweden

Jonas Vlachos

Stockholm University - Department of Economics ( email )

Stockholm, 10691
Sweden

Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN) ( email )

Box 55665
Grevgatan 34, 2nd floor
Stockholm, SE-102 15
Sweden

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