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Family Size and Educational Attainment: Cousins, Contexts, and Compensation
Ea Hoppe Blaabæk1, Mads Meier Jæger1, Joseph Molitoris2
1Department of Sociology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Building 16, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Summary
Larger family sizes negatively impact children's educational attainment. However, strong social ties within the extended family can lessen this effect, highlighting the role of social context.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Economics
- Demography
Background:
- Family size is a significant demographic factor influencing child development.
- Previous research on family size and educational attainment has yielded mixed results.
- Understanding the causal impact of family size requires robust research designs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal effect of family size on children's educational attainment.
- To explore the moderating role of social ties and extended family context.
- To employ advanced econometric methods for precise estimation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a novel research design combining fixed effects and instrumental variable (IV) approaches.
- Employed data on first cousins to control for extended family fixed effects.
- Used variation in in-married spouses' number of siblings as an instrumental variable for family size.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a significant negative causal effect of family size on educational attainment.
- Found that the negative impact of family size is attenuated in families with stronger social ties.
- Indicated that contextual factors beyond the nuclear family play a crucial role.
Conclusions:
- Family size exerts a negative causal influence on educational outcomes.
- Social context and extended family networks can mitigate the adverse effects of larger family sizes.
- Policy and interventions should consider the broader social environment impacting child development.
Keywords:
ContextsEducational attainmentFamily sizeFixed effectsInstrumental variablesResource dilutionMore Related Videos
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