意志的力量——青少年时期意志力对成年收入的影响

Does Willpower in Youthhood Matter for Income in Adulthood:Evidence from China

少年时代意志力养成对个人一生至关重要。本文利用CLDS2012和CEPS2014调查数据,考察青少年时期(十四岁左右)意志力对成年收入的影响,发现:青少年时期更强的意志力,会显著提升成年后的收入水平。其影响机制至少有两方面,一是意志力具有持续性,青少年时期意志力更强则成年后意志力也通常更强;二是青少年时期意志力更强会使得个体在成长过程中养成更好的习惯,更专注学习,有更高的教育期望和学习成绩,最终有更高的教育程度,身体也更健康。两方面因素都对成年后的收入有利。还发现:青少年时期意志力对个体成年收入的影响,女性比男性更大;对雇主和雇员两类从业者显著但对务农人员不显著;工资性收入、经营性收入受青少年时期意志力的影响,但其他收入(如博彩、转移支付等)则不受影响。本文证实,锻炼和培育青少年意志力是家庭重要的人力资本投资,不可忽视。

Willpower is essential for youth to pursue a better and more successful life. In this paper, we employ two set of survey data CLDS2012 and CEPS2014 to investigate empirically the effect of one＇s willpower in youth （about 14-years-old） on income in adult. The results show that, one who had stronger willpower in youth, one would have higher income in adult. Because, on one hand, a stronger willpower in youth most probably leads to a stronger willpower in adult; and on the other hand, a stronger willpower in youth would lead one to develop better habits, focus much more on leaming, pursue a higher education and academic expectations, and be more healthy. These two types of factors are likely to be beneficial for one＇s income when he grew up. We also found that, the effect of willpower in youth on income in adult would be greater for female rather than male, and it would be significant for employers and employees while not significant for peasants or farmer, and the effects exist on wage and business income rather than other incomes such as gambling rewards and transferred income. Our investigation suggests that willpower is an important human capital that deserves to be invested rather than ignored.