Economics Research Seminar – Prof Petter Lundborg

Title: On the Family Origins of Human Capital Formation: Evidence from Donor Children

Guest Speaker: Prof Petter Lundborg

02 March 2022, 13:00-14:00
Zoom

Abstract: We introduce a novel strategy to study the intergenerational transmission of human capital, net of genetic skill transfers. For this purpose, we use unique data on children conceived through sperm and egg donation in IVF treatments in Denmark. Because the assignment of donors is not selective, the intergenerational human capital estimates allow for a causal nurture interpretation. Once we take account of genes, we find that only the education of mothers matters: the association between mother’s education and child test scores is significant and large, whereas the association between father’s education and child test scores is insignificant and practically zero.

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