1 The Socio-Economic Consequences of Early Child Bearing: Evidence from a Sample of UK Female Twins

Preliminarily version: Please do not cite without author’s permission Abstract: In this paper I consider the socio-economic consequences of early child bearing (ECB). Using twins data I attempt to control for unobserved heterogeneity of family background using a within pair estimate. The results suggest that the socio-economic consequences on the mother of ECB are substantially reduced when family background is controlled for. In addition results using a statistical method applied in behavioural genetics confirms the strong family background effects found. The effect of ECB on the socio-economic circumstances of the mother is found to be non-linear. Finally I question the use of the age at first period as a possible instrumental variable for ECB. This suggests that the early life experience leading to the early childbirth rather than the incidence of ECB should be the focus of government policy