Gender differences in the predictors and socio-economic outcomes of young parenthood in Great Britain

A large body of research has identified several predisposing characteristics associated with young parenthood, as well as a host of undesirable outcomes resulting from an early first birth. Using data from a large cohort of British births, we confirm that men and women who enter parenthood before 20 are more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds, have childhood behavioural problems, come from large families, and themselves been born to young mothers. We use the conventional method of examining the socio-economic outcomes associated with an early birth and find, like many others, that compared to individuals who delayed their first birth, individuals who entered parenthood before age 20 fared less well on several outcomes later in life. We then use an instrumental variable technique to account for selection into young parenthood and find that the characteristics that predict young parenthood already points such people towards poorer socio-economic outcomes in later life, such that the failure to delay a first birth can largely be regarded as inconsequential. We also note that after selection into young parenthood has been accounted for, no gender differences in socio-economic outcomes are observed.