Parental Guidance and Supervised Learning
-
Economic Theory Workshop (2005-2010)
University of Pennsylvania
3718 Locust Walk
395 McNeil
395 McNeil
Philadelphia, PA
United States
Joint with: Alessandro Lizzeri
We propose a simple theoretical model of supervised learning that is potentially useful to interpret a number of empirical phenomena relevant to the nature-nurture debate. The model captures a basic trade-off between sheltering the child from the consequences of his mistakes, and allowing him to learn from experience. We characterize the optimal parenting
policy and its comparative-statics properties. We then show that key features of the optimal policy can be useful to interpret provocative findings from behavioral genetics.
For more information, contact Andrew Postlewaite.