When considering parental choices for your young child, you must assess two different sets of factors. The first set includes your individual preferences and circumstances, while the second set involves the potential advantages and drawbacks of your decisions for your child, yourself, and your family. To assist in evaluating these factors, you can refer to scientific studies of varying reliability. While well-conducted randomized control trials and observational studies can provide reliable information, case-control studies should be viewed with skepticism.
childrenchildcare
13 min
9 Bite
InsightCribsheet (2019) offers an original and enlightening viewpoint on parenting in the early years – from an economist's standpoint. With its emphasis on making choices, weighing costs and benefits, evaluating risks, and interpreting data, the field of economics surprisingly provides a practical structure for contemplating the challenging choices confronting new parents as they raise their infants.
Emily Oster is an economist and author. Her research focuses on statistical techniques and health economics.Her research focuses on health economics and statistical methods. She is currently a professor at Brown University.
When considering parental choices for your young child, you must assess two different sets of factors. The first set includes your individual preferences and circumstances, while the second set involves the potential advantages and drawbacks of your decisions for your child, yourself, and your family. To assist in evaluating these factors, you can refer to scientific studies of varying reliability. While well-conducted randomized control trials and observational studies can provide reliable information, case-control studies should be viewed with skepticism.
"Before the baby, you’re a vessel to be cherished and protected. After the baby, you’re a lactation-oriented baby accessory."
"Being pregnant was a lot like being a child again. There was always someone telling you what to do."
"Parenting is much more about the child than about the parent."
9 BitesParenting choices are difficult to make.
Economics can show us that parenting choices are individual.
Utilizing economic logic can offer us a helpful structure for parental decision-making.
When using the economic decision-making model in parenting, it is important to consider trade-offs.
Utilizing the economic decision-making model in raising children also requires evaluating risks.
The study on parental decision-making is made complex by factors that confuse the results.
Randomized controlled trials on a large scale offer parents the most dependable information when making decisions.
Observational studies that are well-conducted can also offer trustworthy information for parents to make decisions.
As a parent, you should approach case-control studies with caution when making decisions.
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