Children who had access to books earn more as adults

Children who had access to books were able to expect a higher adult income than those who grew up with few or none at all, according to new research by economists at the University of Padua. Independent UK reported.

Studying 6,000 men born in nine countries around Europe in the period between 1020 and 1956, they discovered that children who grow up around 10 or more books earn more.

Their findings, which were published in the Economic Journal, showed that one additional year of education could increase a man’s lifetime earnings by 9 per cent.

"Perhaps books matter because they encourage children to read more, and reading can have positive effects on school performance," it was suggested.

"In this sense, we claim that books – like diamonds – are forever." The study added.

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