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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Feb 21.
Published in final edited form as: Soc Forces. 2009 Dec;88(2):543–572. doi: 10.1353/sof.0.0278
a. Time-Invariant Sample Characteristics

Whites Blacks
Childbearing Desires in 1979 – All Women 2.57 2.33
Childbearing Desires in 1979 – by Final Education
< High school 2.40 2.02
High school 2.53 2.26
Some college 2.64 2.34
College 2.61 2.68
Variables in Predicted Education Regressions
Educational expectations in 1979 13.98 13.94
Standardized scores on AFQT .55 −.54
Mother's education 11.96 10.81
Father's education 12.18 10.40
Parents' income in 1979 24,159      12,203     
Lived with both parents until age 14 .80 .49

Total Sample Size Pooled Over Person-Years 48,930      27,651     
b. Time-Varying Sample Characteristics at Three Observation Points and Over All Years

Whites Blacks


1981 1991 2001 All Years 1981 1991 2001 All Years


Completed Education to Date
    < High school .59 .08 .06 .13 .68 .15 .11 .20
    High school .28 .44 .40 .42 .22 .43 .42 .41
    Some college .12 .23 .24 .24 .10 .29 .32 .29
    College .01 .25 .30 .21 .00 .12 .15 .10
Predicted Completed Education
    < High school .09 .07 .06 .07 .16 .15 .11 .14
    High school .19 .33 .39 .32 .24 .38 .42 .34
    Some college .53 .33 .25 .34 .54 .33 .32 .38
    College .19 .27 .30 .27 .07 .14 .15 .14
Age 19.29 29.52 39.55 30.24 19.14 29.53 39.46 30.32
Currently enrolled in school .65 .08 .07 .17 .68 .06 .05 .15
Current wage (if employed) 8.46 13.82 15.91 12.98 9.16 11.20 12.30 11.19
Ln of current wage (if employed) 1.97 2.42 2.56 2.36 2.06 2.28 2.37 2.25
Currently employed .62 .88 .86 .85 .35 .80 .85 .74
Average past wage (when employed) 8.46 9.66 9.14 9.07 9.16 8.43 7.43 8.03
Ln of average past wage (when employed) 1.97 2.18 2.12 2.10 2.06 2.03 1.89 1.96
Proportion years employed from survey start .62 .85 .86 .83 .35 .70 .73 .67
Never employed .38 .01 .00 .05 .65 .05 .02 .13
Spouse wage income (if married) 27,242      49,543      57,091      46,592      22,847      33,114      39,427      32,697     
Ln of spouse wage income (if married) 9.79 10.29 10.55 10.31 9.52 9.39 9.97 9.57
No spouse income (if married) .03 .11 .08 .10 .06 .25 .12 .20
Married/ spouse present .13 .62 .72 .55 .05 .30 .31 .25

N 1,909      2,243      1,855      48,930      1,040      1,277      1,052      27,651     

Notes: Means are weighted and Ns are unweighted. Characteristics are shown for our analysis sample, pooled over all person-years.

Notes: Means are weighted and N's are unweighted. Characteristics are shown for our analysis sample, including all valid person-years in the years indicated. All wages/income are in constant 2004 dollars.