The Effect of Social Fathers on the Cognitive Skills of Out-of-Wedlock Children

Chan, Kwok Ho and Fung, Ka Wai Terence (2013): The Effect of Social Fathers on the Cognitive Skills of Out-of-Wedlock Children.

Abstract

There are two competing views regarding the presence of social fathers on childrens’ cognitive ability: either the social father provides more financial need to the children or the mother with new partners may shift the focus away from the children. Previous research focused more on such effect on older children or adolescents and ignored the self-selection problem. We use data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), and a sample of younger children. Assuming that self-selection is based on observables and using ordinary least square, propensity score matching method (nonparametric methods), we find that children with social fathers scored around three points less in a cognitive ability test than children living only with biological mothers. The result remains the same when using a control-function analysis (parametric).

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Child Welfare; Family Structure; Fragile Families; Non-Marital Childbearing
• Subjects: J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J1 - Demographic Economics > J12 - Marriage ; Marital Dissolution ; Family Structure ; Domestic Abuse; J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J1 - Demographic Economics > J13 - Fertility ; Family Planning ; Child Care ; Children ; Youth

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