Background
Taubman, Paul James was born on December 24, 1939 in Fall River, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Abraham and Lena (Rubin) Taubman.
Taubman, Paul James was born on December 24, 1939 in Fall River, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Abraham and Lena (Rubin) Taubman.
Bachelor of Science, University Pennsylvania, 1961. Doctor of Philosophy, University Pennsylvania, 1964.
Assistant Professor of Economics, Harvard University, 1964-1966. Staff Member, United States President's Council Economics Advisers, Washington, District of Columbia, 1965-1966. Association Professor of Economics, University Pennsylvania, 1966-1972.
Visiting Scholar, University California Berkeley, 1972-1973. Member, Board Human Resources, National Academy of Sciences, USA, 1971^4. Research Association, National Bureau of Economie Research, New York, New York, United States of America, New York City, 1970-1973, Palo Alto, California, since 1977.
Professor of Economics, University Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, since 1972. Association Editor, Journal of the American Statistical Association,
2, Review of Economics and Statistics, since 1974.
Initially I estimated and used saving functions and macro models. To evaluate investment tax incentives, I used a general equilibrium model and demonstrated that if savings’ interest elasticity is small, investment incentives will primarily drive up real interest rates.
Next I turned to estimating the monetary returns to education net of the effect of ability using several major bodies of data generated by T. J. Wales and myself. The sample contains measures of four abilities, numerous aspects of family background, and direct reports on earnings in 1955 and 1969.
We found big biasses in returns if ability and background were not controlled. Mathematical ability was important. Verbal ability, finger dexterity, and spatial perception were not.
Using a Twin Sample, we found that within pair differences in schooling,
identical twins (at age 50) have coefficients about half the coefficient for individuals even after making an appropriate allowance for measurement error.
Using data on both identical and fraternal twins, the variance in any variable is decomposable into genetic, common and specific environment components. We translate the environment into investment in human capital which depends on genetic endowments, family income and prices. Include this genetic impact with any direct genetic impact.
Assume prices are constant across families. Then the variation in common environment occurs because of differences in family income. We treat family income as a latent variable in a system of equations, which are identified.
For earnings, the decomposition of the variance is 45% genetic endowments, 12% common environment, and the rest specific environment. The 12% indicates the maximum gain from eliminating inequality of opportunity, that part of inequality which may be reduced without incurring inefficiency losses. We also find parents slightly reinforce initial endowment differences in allocating resources among siblings.
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science (section K), Econometric Society, International Society for Twin Studies. Member American Economic Association.
Married Joan Greenburg, August 19, 1962. Children: Geoffry, Rena.