First-borns do better
A study has suggested that the oldest kid in the family is likely to do better than their younger siblings.
It also suggests that kids born later on will earn less, are less likely to work full time and, if they are female, are more likely to become teenage mothers.
The study was done on everyone in Norway who was 16 to 74 between 1986 and 2000. That’s a lot of people.
The first-born might be doing better because they learn and organise information about the world and then go on to present it to the others, which is a great skill for work.
People also think that in families that aren’t so well-off or are very busy, more time and money will be spent on the first child.
In the past it has also been said that kids in larger families don’t do as well as those in smaller ones for the same reasons, but the Norwegians say this isn’t so.
Remember that this model only looks at the bigger picture in Norway, and you can certainly do better than your older siblings if you try. It’s simply saying they learn how to do things that are useful later on, because they are put in a situation where they have to.
If you feel like your missing out by not being a first-born, take a hint from Professor Salvanes’ study and learn things to tell your parents and siblings later on. It can be about anything!
And remember that first-borns are usually the first to go (Bible or otherwise).