The Early Origins of Birth Order Differences in Children’s Outcomes and Parental Behavior
利用美国NLSY79数据，发现从1岁起后出生的孩子认知测试得分低于兄姐，入学前差距扩大且持续，母亲认知刺激等行为差异可解释大部分学前认知差距。
We document birth order differences in cognitive and noncognitive outcomes and maternal behavior from birth to adolescence using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79). As early as age one, later-born children score lower on cognitive tests than their siblings, and the gap increases until school entry and remains statistically significant thereafter. Variations in parental behavior, such as cognitive stimulation by mothers, can explain a large portion of the birth order differences in cognitive abilities before school entry. Our findings suggest that broad shifts in parental behavior are plausible explanations for the observed birth order differences in education and labor market outcomes.