Economic Determinants and Consequences of Childhood Human Capital

The development of human capital (i.e., skills and knowledge) begins in early childhood and continues throughout adolescence, shaping individuals' abilities, aspirations, and contributions to society. Developing human capital is an important avenue for improving economic productivity, reducing socioeconomic disadvantage, and promoting social mobility. In three stand-alone chapters, this thesis empirically examines the determinants and consequences of aspects of children’s human capital development. With a focus on children’s time-use, educational aspirations, and the presence of childhood mental health conditions, I show that economic circumstances are important determinants of children’s behaviours and investments in human capital.