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Norwegian

Television, Cognitive Ability, and High School Completion

Link to article:

[PDF]

Authors:

Hernæs, Øystein, Simen Markussen og Knut Røed

Year:

2016

Reference:

Andre skrifter
IZA Discussion paper no 9645

Summary

We exploit supply-driven heterogeneity in the expansion of cable television across Norwegian municipalities to identify developmental effects of commercial television exposure during childhood. We find that higher exposure to commercial television reduces cognitive ability and high school graduation rates for young men. The effects are largest for exposure during pre-school and elementary school age. We find no effect on high school completion for women, suggesting availability of non-educational media content as a factor in the widening educational gender gap. Based on time-use data, we show that a possible explanation is that television-watching crowds out reading more for boys than girls.

JEL:

J13, J16, J24, L82

Keywords:

human capital, media, education gender gap

Project:

Oppdragsgiver: Norges forskningsråd
Oppdragsgivers prosjektnr.: 202513
Frisch prosjekt: 1172 - Social Insurance and Labor Market Inclusion in Norway