Parental risk attitudes and children's secondary school track choice

Abstract

"It is well known that individuals' risk attitudes are related to behavioral outcomes such as smoking, portfolio decisions, and also educational attainment, but there is barely any evidence on whether parental attitudes affect the educational attainment of dependent children. We add to this literature and examine whether parents' risk attitudes relate to children's secondary school track choice in Germany where tracking occurs at age ten and has a strong binding character. Our results indicate mainly no effects of paternal risk preferences but a strong negative impact of maternal risk aversion on children's enrollment in upper secondary school." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Heineck, G. & Wölfel, O. (2010): Parental risk attitudes and children's secondary school track choice. (SOEPpapers on multidisciplinary panel data research at DIW Berlin 344), Berlin, 37 p.