Intergenerational Correlation Research Articles

Does parental education influence child educational outcomes? A developmental analysis in a full-population sample and adoptee design.

Children's educational outcomes are strongly correlated with their parents' educational attainment. This finding is often attributed to the family environment-assuming, for instance, that parents' behavior and resources affect their children's educational outcomes. However, such inferences of a causal role of the family environment depend on the largely untested assumption that such relationships do not simply reflect genes shared between parent and child. We examine this assumption with an adoptee design in full-population cohorts from Danish administrative data. We test whether parental education predicts children's educational outcomes in both biological and adopted children, looking at four components of the child's educational development: (I) the child's conscientiousness during compulsory schooling, (II) academic performance in those same years, (III) enrollment in academically challenging high schools, and (IV) graduation success. Parental education was a substantial predictor of each of these child outcomes in the full population. However, little intergenerational correlation in education was observed in the absence of genetic similarity between parent and child-that is, among adoptees. Further analysis showed that what links adoptive parents' education did have with later-occurring components such as educational attainment (IV) and enrollment (III) appeared to be largely attributable to effects identifiable earlier in development, namely early academic performance (II). The primary nongenetic mechanisms by which education is transmitted across generations may thus have their effects on children early in their educational development, even as the consequences of those early effects persist throughout the child's educational development. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The intergenerational correlation of employment in Europe: a cross-country analysis

ABSTRACT We analyse the long-run intergenerational correlation of employment in Europe, providing cross-country evidence. Using the 2011 special module on Intergenerational Transmission, from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), we analyse the correlation between the current employment status of respondents, and that of their parents when respondents were 14 years old, in nine European countries. Estimates show that the intergenerational correlation of employment varies across countries and by gender, and is, in most cases, small or non-statistically significant.

Mothers, sons and daughters: intergenerational transmission of education in Canada

PurposeThis study used data from the General Social Survey (2011) to examine the trends in intergenerational educational mobility in Canada for the 1940–1989 birth cohorts. To this end, the purpose of this study is to focus on the relationship between mothers' education and children's education.Design/methodology/approachThe study estimated intergenerational regression and correlation coefficients and several mobility indices, namely, the Prais–Shorrocks index, immobility index, upward mobility index and downward mobility index.FindingsThe study found considerable gender differences with respect to the trends in these coefficients and indices. The study found that, over the period of study, the correlation coefficient slightly increased for sons while it decreased for daughters. The Prais–Shorrocks index, immobility index, upward mobility index and downward mobility index show that educational mobility has increased for daughters while that of sons has decreased over time. Finally, the relative educational opportunities indicators also suggest a similar result that educational mobility has increased for the daughters while it fell for the sons.Originality/valueA number of studies used Canadian data to examine intergenerational educational mobility. However, no study particularly focused on the relationship between mothers' education and children's education. In recent years, women's labor force participation rate and employment rate increased significantly. Thus, it will be interesting to see how mothers' education is related to children's education in Canada.

How far the apple falls from the tree: Intergenerational transmission of educational attainment in Indonesia

We use five waves of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) to create unique father-son matched data of the male population (aged 25–53). Using this data, we investigate the evolution of intergenerational transmission of educational attainment in Indonesia over time, by ethnicities (six major ethnic groups), and by regions (twelve provinces). To estimate the persistence in education (measured as schooling years of the father as a predictor of schooling years of the son), we use coefficient of correlation and regression coefficient methods. Our results from the regression coefficient suggest that persistence in Indonesia is declined over time. Whereas, the results from the coefficient of correlation reveals no secular trend in education persistence over time. Thus, to understand the reason behind the secular trend in the correlation coefficient we decompose the correlation following Checchi and García-Peñalosa (2008). The decomposed intergenerational correlation shows that although the persistence is declined at the lower-end of fathers’ education distribution, it is increased at the top-end of the distribution. Therefore, we argue that the coefficient of correlation should be used with caution while analyzing the education policy particularly the persistence in education. Thereafter, we document the stationary distribution and find the conclusive evidence of non-convergence in educational attainment over time among both, ethnicities and regions.

Intergenerational Homeownership in France over the 20th Century

We estimate the intergenerational correlation in homeownership status between two generations for cohorts covering the 20th century. First, we find higher intergenerational correlation in France compared to previous results obtained for the U.K. for similar cohorts. Second, the intergenerational correlation is increasing across cohorts, with a relatively stable probability of being a homeowner for children of homeowners over time, and a decreasing probability for children whose parents were not homeowners. Third, the effect of parents’ tenure status is persistent over the children’s life cycle. Fourth, when isolating two subpopulations based on the receipt of intergenerational transfers, we find significant intergenerational correlation in tenure status for children who did not receive any gift or inheritance, as well as for children who received intergenerational transfers, suggesting that other factors such as intergenerational income correlation or the transmission of preferences might also explain this intergenerational correlation.

Household deprivation and the intergenerational correlation of education: An analysis of developing countries

We investigate the relationship between parent's education and children's education in the presence of deprivation in developing countries. The aim is to contribute to the evidence on the important factors in the intergenerational transmission of education. The deprivation index constructed comprises of child mortality, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, and assets. Our findings show a strong relationship between being deprived and the intergenerational correlation of education. This relationship is a little stronger for women as compared to the men.

Parental Assortative Mating and the Intergenerational Transmission of Human Capital

We study the contribution of parental similarity in schooling levels to the intergenerational transmission of educational attainment. We develop an empirical model for educational correlations within the family in which parental sorting can translate into intergenerational transmission, or transmission can originate from each parent independently. Estimating the model using educational attainment from Danish population-based administrative data for over 400,000 families, we find that about 75 percent of the intergenerational correlation in education is driven by the joint contribution of the parents. We also document a sizeable secular decline of parental assortative mating in education, with a corresponding fall in joint intergenerational transmission from both parents; a fall compensated by an increase in parent-specific intergenerational transmission, leaving total intergenerational persistence unchanged. The mechanisms of intergenerational transmission have changed, with an increased importance of one-to-one parent-child relationships.

Pathways of Disadvantage: Unpacking the Intergenerational Correlation in Welfare

Our goal is to investigate the pathways that link welfare receipt across generations. We undertake a mediation analysis in which we not only calculate the intergenerational correlation in welfare, but also quantify the portion of that correlation that operates through key mechanisms. Our data come from administrative welfare records for young people (aged 23–26) and their parents over nearly two decades which have been linked to survey responses from young people at age 18. The mediators we consider jointly explain nearly a third (32.2 percent) of the intergenerational correlation in welfare receipt. The primary mechanism linking welfare receipt across generations is the failure to complete high school. Adolescents in welfare-reliant families experience more disruptions in their schooling (e.g., school changes and residential mobility, expulsions and suspensions) and receive less financial support from their families both of which impact on their chances of completing high school and avoiding the welfare roll. Young people's risk-taking behavior (smoking, illicit drug use, delinquency and pregnancy) is also a key mechanism underpinning intergenerational welfare reliance. Physical and mental health, work-welfare attitudes and academic achievement, in contrast, have a more modest role in transmitting welfare receipt across generations.

Genetic Enhancement of Yield Traits in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.): An Analysis of Selection in Early Segregating Generations

Background: Indirect selection for yield contributing traits in segregating generation is practiced to realize the potential yields. However, the effectiveness of selection either in early or late segregating generation is a debatable issue in self pollinated crops. The issue is addressed in chickpea by analyzing four segregating generations of a cross in the same season. Method: A bold seeded desi chickpea variety BGD 103 crossed with JAKI 9218. The segregating generations were advanced up to F5 without selection and retaining part of the seeds in each generation. The populations comprised of 162 F­2 plants, 162 F3, F4 and F5 progeny rows were evaluated during rabi 2018-19. The observations on seed traits were recorded and data was subjected to statistical analyses to estimate correlation among the traits in each generations, inter-generation correlation and heritability.Result: The range of variation for the traits narrowed with advancement of the generations. The heritability decreased for seed weight, increased for number of pods per plant and number of seeds per plant with the advancement of generation. In all the four generations, seed yields were associated with number of pods per plant, seeds per plant and seed weight. The change in association among seed traits different generations and estimates of inter-generation correlations suggest that simultaneous improvement of seed weight, seed number and seed yield could be achieved by selection in F3 and F4 generations.

Historical social stratification and mobility in Costa Rica, 1840–2006†

AbstractUsing both rare and ethnically identified surnames, this study tracks the economic status of social groups in Costa Rica between 1840 and 2006. The results show that, despite its relative equality compared to most of Latin America, social mobility rates in Costa Rica were low, with an intergenerational correlation of status at the surname level near 0.8. Social mobility rates in recent years have been as low as they were in the nineteenth century. Interestingly, however, these low rates of mobility are no worse than those in Chile, England, or Sweden in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. There is no indication that Costa Rica was an unusually immobile society, despite its ethnic differences and Latin America's reputation for low social mobility rates.

English

English

Mathematics Anxiety: An Intergenerational Approach.

This study investigated mathematics anxiety from an intergenerational perspective, by investigating data on 172 primary-school children and both their biological parents. This family dataset (n = 516) allowed us to not only replicate previous findings per generation but also, importantly, explore intergenerational correlations. We found a significant negative association between sixth graders’ arithmetical performance and their mathematics anxiety. Gender differences occurred in each generation: females were more anxious than males about mathematics. Interestingly, these gender differences were not found in actual arithmetical performance. Analyses of our intergenerational data revealed that children’s mathematics anxiety was significantly associated with their mothers’ mathematics anxiety and both their mothers’ and fathers’ educational level. Regression analyses revealed that the significance level of mothers’ mathematics anxiety became borderline when considering mathematics anxiety and educational level of both parents simultaneously. Interestingly, mathematics anxiety as well as educational level of both biological parents was associated, suggesting that mathematics anxiety results from a complex entanglement of nature and nurture. Current intergenerational data suggest a complex familial basis of mathematics anxiety and indicate that the investigation of parental levels of education and mathematics anxiety contributes to the understanding of individual differences in children’s arithmetic performance.

Understanding the role of policy on inequalities in the intergenerational correlation in health and wages: Evidence from the UK from 1991-2017.

Social mobility is high on the policy agenda and is an important component of reducing inequalities. Estimating the relationship across generations of multiple dimensions of mobility such as health and wages can be used to understand the current state of mobility. However, there has been little research on how policy impacts on the relationship of multiple outcomes across generations and how that may be contributing to health inequalities and long-term mobility. In this paper, we use the UK as a case study to evaluate the impact of three distinct policy periods: 1991-1998 (Increasing neo-liberalism); 1998-2009 (English Health Inequalities Strategy); 2010-2017 (Austerity) on the relationship across generations in health (self-assessed health (SAH) and mental health measured by General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12)) and hourly wages. We employ fixed effects models on data from the British Household Panel Survey (1991-2008) and its successor the Understanding Society Survey (2009-2017). To investigate the role of policy on inequalities, sub-group analysis is performed by parental socioeconomic status measured by parental educational attainment, parental occupation, and if a single parent household. Results show that for the population on average, a changing policy focus has no impact on the strength of the relationship across generations in both health and wages. However, when looking at sub-groups the strength of the relationship in SAH and wages is increasing for parents with basic and higher qualifications and their young adult children. Whereas the influence of parents on their young adult children's SAH, mental health, and wages has remained fairly constant over the period 1991-2017 for parents with manual occupations and professional occupations. There has been a slight weakening in the influence of parents on their young adult children's SAH and wages for single parent families from 2010.

Regression analysis and inter generation trait association in F3 and F4 generation of wheat

The present study was carried to determine the response of selection for grain yield, yield-related components and to study the amount of genetic variation transferred from one generation to next generation viz., F3 and F4 segregating generations of wheat derived from a single cross WH711xPBW698. The coefficient of variation was high in the F3 generation compared to F4 which was low, indicating that homozygosity is attained in the F3 generation itself. In both the generation negatively skewed platykurtic for plant height, spike length, spike weight, grain weight/ spike, the number of grains/ spike, the number of tillers/ plant, grain yield/ plant and biological yield/ plant indicated that these traits were governed by many numbers of genes and most of them with governed by dominant and dominant based duplicate epistasis. Mild selection is expected to result in a rapid genetic gain for these traits. The positively skewed platykurtic for leaf length, flag leaf area, 100 grain weight, harvest index and days to heading indicate that these traits were governed by many genes and the majority of them displaying dominant and dominant based complementary epistasis and hence the intensive selection is required for rapid genetic gain in these traits. Positive and significant values of intergenerational correlation and regression were observed for all the characters, which indicated the effectiveness and reliability of selection for these characters. The results indicate that progeny performance in the F3 generation can be suggestive for selecting superior progenies in subsequent generations.

A population-based resource for intergenerational metabolomics analyses in pregnant women and their children: the Generation R Study

IntroductionAdverse exposures in early life may predispose children to cardio-metabolic disease in later life. Metabolomics may serve as a valuable tool to disentangle the metabolic adaptations and mechanisms that potentially underlie these associations.ObjectivesTo describe the acquisition, processing and structure of the metabolomics data available in a population-based prospective cohort from early pregnancy onwards and to examine the relationships between metabolite profiles of pregnant women and their children at birth and in childhood.MethodsIn a subset of 994 mothers-child pairs from a prospective population-based cohort study among pregnant women and their children from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, we used LC–MS/MS to determine concentrations of amino acids, non-esterified fatty acids, phospholipids and carnitines in blood serum collected in early pregnancy, at birth (cord blood), and at child’s age 10 years.ResultsConcentrations of diacyl-phosphatidylcholines, acyl-alkyl-phosphatidylcholines, alkyl-lysophosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelines were the highest in early pregnancy, concentrations of amino acids and non-esterified fatty acids were the highest at birth and concentrations of alkyl-lysophosphatidylcholines, free carnitine and acyl-carnitines were the highest at age 10 years. Correlations of individual metabolites between pregnant women and their children at birth and at the age of 10 years were low (range between r = − 0.10 and r = 0.35).ConclusionOur results suggest that unique metabolic profiles are present among pregnant women, newborns and school aged children, with limited intergenerational correlations between metabolite profiles. These data will form a valuable resource to address the early metabolic origins of cardio-metabolic disease.

Frontiers of mobility: Was Australia 1870–2017 a more socially mobile society than England?

There is longstanding pride among Australians that by throwing off the social class demarcations that defined their ossified colonial parent society, England, they created an open, socially mobile society. The paper tests this belief by estimating long run social mobility rates in Australia 1870–2017, using the status of rare surnames. The status information includes occupations from electoral rolls 1903–1980, and records of degrees awarded by Melbourne and Sydney universities 1852–2017. Status persistence was strong throughout, with an intergenerational correlation of occupational or educational status of 0.7–0.8, and no change over time. Mobility rates were also just as low within UK immigrants and their descendants, so ethnic group effects explain none of the immobility. The less pronounced class divisions of Australia compared to England did not enhance social mobility. A possible sign of enhanced Australian social mobility – the fact that surnames associated with convicts already had a modest elite status by 1870 – seems to derive from convicts transported to Australia from England being positively selected in terms of human capital.

Foreclosed American Dream? Parental Foreclosure and Young Adult Children’s Homeownership

In this study, I investigated the homeownership decisions of young adult children who experienced parental foreclosure. Results from a linear probability model using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics showed that young adults were less likely to become homeowners following parental foreclosure and that foreclosures between 2009 and 2011 had the strongest negative effects. Young adults who lived in low-foreclosure states, who lived outside their parents’ county, and who were more financially prepared were affected more. This evidence suggests that the parental foreclosure effect was unlikely to operate through common economic shocks at the state or county level or through parental financial transfers, implying potential psychological effects of parental foreclosure. These findings reveal an intergenerational correlation of negative housing experiences and highlight the importance of designing and providing counseling services not only for owners of foreclosed homes but also for their family members.

Pathways of Disadvantage: Unpacking the Intergenerational Correlation in Welfare

Our goal is to investigate the pathways that link welfare receipt across generations. We undertake a mediation analysis in which we not only calculate the intergenerational correlation in welfare, but also quantify the portion of that correlation that operates through key mechanisms. Our data come from administrative welfare records for young people (aged 23 – 26) and their parents over nearly two decades which have been linked to survey responses from young people at age 18. The mediators we consider jointly explain nearly a third (32.2 percent) of the intergenerational correlation in welfare participation and more than half (52.6 percent) of the link between parental welfare participation and young people's total welfare benefits. The primary mechanism linking welfare receipt across generations is the failure to complete high school. Adolescents in welfare-reliant families experience more disruptions in their schooling (e.g., school changes and residential mobility, expulsions and suspensions) and receive less financial support from their families both of which impact on their chances of completing high school and avoiding the welfare roll. Young people's risk-taking behavior (smoking, illicit drug use, delinquency and pregnancy) is also a key mechanism underpinning intergenerational welfare reliance. Physical and mental health, work-welfare attitudes and academic achievement, in contrast, have a more modest role in transmitting welfare receipt across generations.

Occupational Dualism and Intergenerational Educational Mobility in the Rural Economy: Evidence from China and India

This paper extends the Becker-Tomes model of intergenerational educational mobility to a rural economy characterized by farm-nonfarm occupational dualism and provides a comparative analysis of rural China and rural India. The model builds a micro-foundation for the widely used linear-in-levels estimating equation. Returns to education for parents and productivity of financial investment in children’s education determine relative mobility, as measured by the slope, while the intercept depends, among other factors, on the degree of persistence in nonfarm occupations. Unlike many existing studies based on coresident samples, our estimates of intergenerational mobility do not suffer from truncation bias. The sons in rural India faced lower educational mobility compared with the sons in rural China in the 1970s to 1990s. To understand the role of genetic inheritance, Altonji et al. (2005) biprobit sensitivity analysis is combined with the evidence on intergenerational correlation in cognitive ability in economics and behavioral genetics literature. The observed persistence can be due solely to genetic correlations in China, but not in India. Father’s nonfarm occupation was complementary to his education in determining a sons’ schooling in India, but separable in China. There is evidence of emerging complementarity for the younger cohorts in rural China. Structural change in favor of the nonfarm sector contributed to educational inequality in rural India. Evidence from supplementary data on economic mechanisms suggests that the model provides plausible explanations for the contrasting roles of occupational dualism in intergenerational educational mobility in rural India and rural China. (Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality Working Paper Series)

Accounting for Intergenerational Wealth Mobility in France over the 20th Century: Method and Estimations

We propose a new and simple method to study intergenerational wealth correlation between two generations, which is easy to implement in wealth (and housing) surveys and aims at overcoming the strong data limitation faced in most of the countries. We show that the ownership of housing assets can be used to proxy for three wealth groups for all cohorts. Misclassification induces a low and downward bias in the estimate of the intergenerational correlation. Using France as an example, we estimate intergenerational wealth correlation for cohorts covering the 20th century and focus on the wealth positions measured at the mid-life cycle of both children and parents. First, probabilities to belong to top wealth groups are increasing with the wealth of the parents. This intergenerational correlation has increased over time for most of the top wealth groups. Second, the higher we move up along the children’s wealth distribution, the larger the role of parental wealth: the persistence in the top 50% is 38% higher than under perfect mobility and the deviations from perfect mobility are larger in higher top wealth groups. Third, 50 to 60% of the correlation is accounted for by a mix of intergenerational wealth transfers, fathers’ occupation and children’s education. Fourth, gifts and bequests explain a larger share of the link between parental wealth and the probability to belong to the top 10% compared to larger top wealth groups. We also find evidence of persistence of the effect of parental wealth over the life-cycle.