Family poverty and adolescents’ cognitive and noncognitive outcomes: Evidence from China

• Published in: Economics and human biology 2024-08, Vol.54, p.101402, Article 101402
• Main Authors: Chen, Jiwei, Zhang, Zongli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Development; Child; China; Cognition; Cognitive skill, Noncognitive skills, China; Family Characteristics; Female; Humans; Male; Parent-Child Relations; Poverty; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors
• ISSN: 1570-677X; 1873-6130; 1873-6130
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2024.101402

Using data from the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS) during the 2013–2014 academic year, this paper examines the effects of family poverty on adolescents’ cognitive and noncognitive outcomes. We find that family poverty is detrimental to adolescent development. Children from poor families have poorer academic performance and noncognitive abilities. We also find that the negative effects of family poverty are more pronounced among children with urban hukou, boys, and children from one-child families. Furthermore, we find that there are multiple channels behind the estimated effects, including parental educational expectations, parental education investments, and parent-child relationship. This paper opens up the “black box” of family poverty affecting children’s development, which can provide reference for governments to design measures aimed at eliminating poverty trap. •This paper examines the effects of family poverty on adolescents’ cognitive and noncognitive outcomes.•Family poverty has negative effects on adolescents’ cognitive and noncognitive outcomes.•The negative effects of family poverty are more pronounced among children with urban hukou, boys, and children from one-child families.•There are multiple channels through which family poverty affects children’s development.