Timing of School Entry and Personality Traits in Adulthood

Abstract

This paper investigates the long-run consequences of a later school entry for personality traits. For identification, we exploit the statutory cutoff rules for school enrollment in Germany within a regression discontinuity design. We find that relatively older school starters have persistently lower levels of neuroticism in adulthood, which is entirely driven by women. We also find positive effects on school tracking and attainment as an intermediate outcome. Our results suggest that family decisions regarding compliance with enrollment cutoffs may have lasting implications for gender gaps in socio-emotional skills.

Andreas Leibing

Postdoctoral Researcher

I’m an applied microeconomist with a particular interest in labor economics and the economics of education.