Journal article
Effects of family income on child academic achievement: Evidence from changes in the minimum wage
Southern economic journal, Vol.93(1), pp.34-84
05/15/2025
DOI: 10.1002/soej.12777
Abstract
We examine the effect of family earnings on child math and reading test scores using the minimum wage as an instrument for family earnings. We show that a higher minimum wage raises earnings significantly and that the effect of the minimum wage on family earnings varies by maternal skill. Notably, a higher minimum wage is not associated with meaningful reductions in maternal work hours and weeks worked. Overall, we find that family earnings have little effect on child achievement test scores. OLS estimates are positive, but very small. IV estimates are small and mostly statistically insignificant, but precisely enough estimated to rule out benefits exceeding 0.03 standard deviations per additional $1000 earnings.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Effects of family income on child academic achievement: Evidence from changes in the minimum wage
- Creators
- Dhaval M. Dave - National Bureau of Economic ResearchRobert Kaestner - National Bureau of Economic ResearchWei Lyu - University of Alabama at BirminghamGeorge L. Wehby - National Bureau of Economic Research
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Southern economic journal, Vol.93(1), pp.34-84
- DOI
- 10.1002/soej.12777
- ISSN
- 0038-4038
- eISSN
- 2325-8012
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 51
- Grant note
- 10.13039/100000867 / Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 05/15/2025
- Academic Unit
- Preventive and Community Dentistry; Health Management and Policy; Economics
- Record Identifier
- 9984824246202771
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