A person’s family background and education early in life may be a better indicator of success than his education, a Nobel Prize-winning economist told the Kentucky Economic Association on Friday. “The family lives of young children are the major producers of cognitive and socioemotional skills. These, in turn, predict crime, health and obesity,” said James J. Heckman, speaking at Georgetown College’s Thomas & King Conference Center. “The true measure of disadvantage is the quality of parenting, not income per se,” Heckman said.
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