The Conversation (0)
Wil Jones
Apr 05, 2017
Pictures:
PA
Books are cool, ok?
They can be moving, inspiring, funny, frightening and everything in between.
They can also help you earn more money – especially if you grow up around them.
A study by economists from the University of Padua looked at 6,000 men born in nine different countries across Europe, and asked them if they grew up in a home with:
- Fewer than 10 books
- A shelf of books
- A full book case
- Two bookcases
- Or more than just two bookcases
And guess what they found? Those with more books ended up earning more money as an adult.
It wasn’t that simple though. The research also looked at the effect of an additional year of schooling, which they found increased earnings by 9%.
However, the effectiveness of that extra schooling significantly correlated to access to books. Those who grew up in a home full of books saw the extra year give them a 21% rise in earnings – but those with very few books only had a 5% rise.
There could be several reasons for this. The researchers suggested:
Perhaps books matter because they encourage children to read more, and reading can have positive effects on school performance.
Alternatively, a home filled with books indicates advantageous socio-economic conditions.
But I’m sure we can agree on one thing: books are awesome and you should buy them for your kids.