Outcome Associations
How gproxy (observed cognitive composite) associates with education, employment, earnings, wealth, health, crime, and family outcomes across NLSY cohorts.
Education
AttainmentOdds of Degree Attainment per SD of gproxy
Logistic regression odds ratios for reaching each education threshold, per one standard-deviation increase in the cognitive composite.
All p < 1e-88. Pseudo R² values reflect Nagelkerke R² from logistic models.
| Cohort | Threshold | N | Prevalence | OR | Pseudo R² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSY79 | BA+ | 5,794 | 23.8% | 5.32 | 0.212 |
| NLSY79 | Graduate+ | 5,794 | 8.4% | 4.75 | 0.160 |
| NLSY97 | BA+ | 5,304 | 39.7% | 4.36 | 0.175 |
| NLSY97 | Graduate+ | 5,304 | 17.6% | 3.33 | 0.113 |
Employment
Labor ForceEmployment Odds Ratio per SD of gproxy
Odds of being employed at the survey wave, per SD increase in the cognitive composite.
NLSY79 measured at ages 36–43; NLSY97 measured at ages 27–31.
Earnings & Wealth
EconomicPer-SD Returns to Cognitive Ability
OLS beta coefficients: dollar increase in each outcome per one SD of gproxy.
All models include age controls. Net worth and household income measured at most recent available wave.
Cross-Cohort Earnings Comparison (Age 36–40)
| Outcome | NLSY79 β/SD | NLSY97 β/SD |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings | $7,370 | $22,290 |
| Household income | $29,208 | $38,531 |
Key finding: The per-SD earnings return roughly tripled from NLSY79 to NLSY97 at comparable ages.
Occupation
Job Type| Occupation Group | Mean gproxy | Mean Education (yr) | Mean HH Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management / professional | 0.32 | 14.7 | $74,749 |
| Service | −0.10 | 13.0 | $48,326 |
| Sales / office | −0.08 | — | — |
| Farming | −0.07 | — | — |
| Construction / extraction | −0.44 | — | — |
| Production / transport | −0.45 | — | — |
Mean gproxy by Occupation Group (NLSY79)
Horizontal bars sorted by mean gproxy score.
Crime & Justice
NLSY97Crime/Justice Odds Ratios per SD of gproxy
OR < 1 means higher gproxy is associated with lower odds of the outcome.
Source: NLSY97. All items measured as ever-report through most recent wave.
Health
NLSY79 + NLSY97Health & Substance Odds Ratios per SD
Logistic regression ORs. OR < 1 indicates higher gproxy is associated with lower odds.
Family Formation
Demographics| Cohort | Outcome | OR / β | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLSY79 | Ever married | 1.779 | OR per SD |
| NLSY79 | Ever divorced | 0.729 | OR per SD |
| NLSY79 | Has children | 0.786 | OR per SD |
| NLSY79 | Age at first birth | 2.79 | years per SD |
| NLSY97 | Ever married | 1.561 | OR per SD |
| NLSY97 | Age at first birth | 2.86 | years per SD |
Mediation
NLSY79Mediation of g → Log Earnings (NLSY79)
Sequential addition of mediators. Bars show the beta coefficient for gproxy on log annual earnings after controlling for each set of mediators.
Percentages show cumulative attenuation from the baseline. Job zone acts as a suppressor (−2.7%), meaning its inclusion increases the g coefficient. Most of the g–earnings association operates outside education, employment, and job complexity.