nep-dem New Economics Papers
on Demographic Economics
Issue of 2026–02–02
one paper chosen by
Héctor Pifarré i Arolas, University of Wisconsin


  1. How Parenting Styles Shape Children’s Lifetime Outcomes By Dohmen, Thomas; Golsteyn, Bart; Grönqvist, Hans; Hertegård, Edvin; Pfann, Gerard

  1. By: Dohmen, Thomas (University of Bonn and Maastricht University); Golsteyn, Bart (Maastricht University); Grönqvist, Hans (Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)); Hertegård, Edvin (SOFI, Stockholm University); Pfann, Gerard (Maastricht University and University of Amsterdam)
    Abstract: This study examines how parenting styles predict children’s lifetime outcomes. Using a Swedish dataset which combines rich survey information on parenting styles with administrative records tracking children over five decades, we find that authoritarian parenting is negatively associated with children’s long-term success, especially regarding their educational attainment. The results for other parenting styles are more mixed. Authoritarian parenting remains a robust predictor of adverse outcomes even when accounting for ability and family background. We identify children’s knowledge accumulation and parental educational expectations as key mechanisms explaining these results.
    Keywords: Child Rearing; Human Capital; Skill Formation
    JEL: I24 J13 J24 R20
    Date: 2026–01–21
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:iuiwop:1551

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