The long-term cognitive and socioeconomic consequences of birth intervals: a within-family sibling comparison using Swedish register data

Barclay, Kieron and Kolk, Martin (2017) The long-term cognitive and socioeconomic consequences of birth intervals: a within-family sibling comparison using Swedish register data. Demography, 54 (2). pp. 459-484. ISSN 0070-3370

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Abstract

We examine the relationship between birth-to-birth intervals and a variety of midand long-term cognitive and socioeconomic outcomes, including high school GPA, cognitive ability, educational attainment, earnings, unemployment status, and receiving government welfare support. Using contemporary Swedish population register data and a within-family sibling comparison design, we find that neither the birth interval preceding the index person, nor the birth interval following the index person, are associated with any substantively meaningful changes in mid- or long-term outcomes. This is true even for individuals born before or after birth-to-birth intervals of less than 12 months. We conclude that in a contemporary high income welfare state there appear to be no relationship between unusually short or long birth intervals and adverse long-term outcomes.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://link.springer.com/journal/13524
Additional Information:	© 2017 The Authors © CC BY 4.0
Divisions:	Social Policy
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Date Deposited:	26 Sep 2016 14:42
Last Modified:	14 Sep 2024 07:19
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/67861

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