Dr Denise Hawkes, a research officer at the Institute of Education in London, surveyed 202 pairs of twins throughout the UK to establish how much family income was affected by a difference in age at the birth of a first child. Her study, Education, Earnings, Ability and Early Child Bearing: Evidence from a sample of UK twins, is the first to survey female twins who became mothers at different ages.
The women interviewed were in their forties. Those who had had their first child in their teens lost 2 per cent a year from their family income, or Pounds 12,000 over their lifetime, compared with their sisters who had their babies in their mid-twenties.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here