Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/20939 
Year of Publication: 
2002
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 643
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This article analyzes whether the commonly found negative relationship between parental separation in childhood and educational outcomes is causal or mainly due to selection. We use data on about 100,000 Swedish full biological siblings, born in 1951-64, and perform cross-section and sibling-difference estimations. Outcomes are measured as educational attainment in 1996. Our cross-section analysis show the expected negative and significant relationship, while the relationship is not significant, though precisely estimated, in the siblingdifference analysis. This finding was robust to the sensitivity tests performed and is consistent with selection, rather than causation, being the explanation for the negative relationship.
Subjects: 
divorce
child welfare
siblings estimators
JEL: 
J12
I20
I30
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
257.78 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.