IMCHILD: The impact of childhood circumstances on individual outcomes over the life-course

The impact of childhood circumstances on outcomes in adulthood has been widely studied in the literature. Although much is known about the relationship between parental background and children’s performance at certain stages of their adulthood, little has been done to analyse how childhood circumstances influence educational and labour market outcomes of individuals over the entire lifecourse and under certain institutional designs and policies. Rather than focusing on a specific stage of adulthood as most studies do, this project aims to employ a
life-course perspective and analyse (1) how circumstances in childhood affect influential decisions which mark individuals’ transition to adulthood (educational and occupational choices, family formation etc.), and (2) how these decisions translate into social and economic outcomes (e.g. labour market performance, well-being, (early) retirement decisions) at later stages in life. We will simultaneously address these questions from intergenerational mobility and equality of opportunity perspectives and involve cross-country comparisons, in order to identify causal mechanisms via which social and economic advantages are transmitted from one generation to another, reproducing and reinforcing inequalities in the society. The international team of researchers from France, Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden, and the US will be working in close co-operation to build extensive knowledge on the topic and equip policy-makers with potential options for policy interventions. The results of the project will be summarized in several PhD dissertations, published in academic and non-academic outlets, and disseminated via presentations at relevant events.

Research team

Prof. A. Peichl
University of Munich

Prof. A. Trannoy
School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Prof. D. Waldenström
Uppsala University

Prof. A. Lefranc
Université de Cergy-Pontoise

The Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research and the University of Luxembourg are Cooperation Partners to this project.