Intergenerational Transmission of Human Capital (ICPSR 34410)

Principal Investigator(s): Figlio, David N., Northwestern University. School of Education and Social Policy

Summary: A large body of evidence suggests that children who do well in school earn more, enjoy better health, and have higher levels of life satisfaction. Another large body of evidence suggests that performance in school is strongly correlated with family characteristics, including parental education. If the link from parental education to children's education is a causal one, then interventions that improve the educational achievements of one generation will also benefit future generations. The g... (more info)

• These data are not available from ICPSR. Users should consult the data owners directly for details on obtaining the data and documentation.

This survey was funded by:

• United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Summary:   A large body of evidence suggests that children who do well in school earn more, enjoy better health, and have higher levels of life satisfaction. Another large body of evidence suggests that performance in school is strongly correlated with family characteristics, including parental education. If the link from parental education to children's education is a causal one, then interventions that improve the educational achievements of one generation will also benefit future generations. The goal of this project was to study the correlations between parental education and children's schooling and analyze the extent to which these correlations represent causal links. In addition, by examining the channels through which the effects may operate, the project sought to provide new evidence on the relationship between parental education, aspects of parental behavior, the neighborhood in which a child lives, and the type of school a child attends.

Subject Terms:   academic achievement, education, educational environment, neighborhood characteristics, parent child relationship, parental influence, parents, schools

Geographic Coverage:   Florida, United States

Data Collection Notes:

These data are not available from DSDR or ICPSR. Researchers should consult the principal investigator directly for details on obtaining access to the data and documentation:

Dr. David Figlio

School of Information and Social Policy

Northwestern University

2120 Campus Drive

Evanston, IL 60208

email: figlio@northwestern.edu