" Is Time Investment a Driving Channel of the Negative Effect of Parental Separation on Child Development ? "

Abstract
While a large number of studies emphasize a negative effect of parental separa- tion, little attention has been paid to the channels of this effect. This paper shows that time-use and parental times could be a driving channel of the negative effect of parental separation. Using detailed time-use diaries from the PSID-Child Development Supplement, I estimate an individual fixed effects model and find that a change in family structure has a negative impact on time spent with at least one parent present. Times with parents together and with fathers (only) are highly affected, but mothers compensate partially for this decrease. Besides, to see if it matters for child develop- ment, I estimate cognitive and non-cognitive skills production functions using several specifications. I shed light on the heterogeneity of parental time inputs for emotional and cognitive skills. Time use and parental times appear to be a possible driving chan- nel of the effect of parental separation, especially at stake for children whose parents get separated in their early childhood and children with more highly educated parents. .