Gregg, Paul, Propper, Carol and Washbrook, Elizabeth (2007) Understanding the relationship between parental income and multiple child outcomes: a decomposition analysis. CASEpapers (129). Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, London, UK.
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Abstract
In this paper we explore the association between family income and children’s cognitive ability (IQ and school performance), socio-emotional outcomes (self esteem, locus of control and behavioural problems) and physical health (risk of obesity). We develop a decomposition technique that allows us to compare the relative importance of the adverse family characteristics and home environments of low income children in accounting for different outcomes. Using rich cohort data from the UK we find that poor children are disadvantaged at age 7 to 9 across the full spectrum of outcomes, the gradient being strongest for cognitive outcomes and weakest for physical health. We find that some aspects of environment appear to be associated with the full range of outcomes - for example, maternal smoking and breastfeeding, child nutrition, parental psychological functioning. We also find some some aspects of the environment of higher income households hinder child development. We conclude that many aspects of growing up in poverty are harmful to children’s development, and that narrowly-targeted interventions are unlikely to have a significant impact on intergenerational mobility.
| Item Type: | Monograph (Discussion Paper) |
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| Official URL: | http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/case |
| Additional Information: | © 2007 The Authors |
| Divisions: | STICERD Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology |
| JEL classification: | I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I3 - Welfare and Poverty > I32 - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J1 - Demographic Economics > J13 - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Jun 2008 11:29 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Sep 2024 20:06 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/6196 |
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