Inequality in Social Capital Transition within Family: Time Diary Evidence

In this paper we investigate inequality in social capital transition to children using time diary evidence from American Heritage Time Use Study (2003-2012). We first identify set of activities that are particularly salient in social capital acquisition and examine whether parents involve in these activities together with their children in daily life. Specifically we look at absolute and relative differences in parental time spent in (i) leisure activities at home (ii) out-of-home leisure activities (iii) meal time together and (v) volunteering activities.  We also look at time spent in watching TV as this is identified as one of the reasons in decline in social capital in the US (Putnam 2000). The study shows significant inequalities in social capital transition by parental education and ethnic background. Low-educated parents spend more time watching television in the presence of children both in absolute terms (total number of minutes) and relative terms (in proportion to total time in watching TV).  For example, ceteris paripus, white mothers with post-college degree spend 50 minutes less in watching TV daily while they have their children in care. The corresponding figure for white fathers is 37 minutes.  On the other hand, high-educated parents are far more likely to involve their children in their out-of-home leisurely activities relative to their low-educated counterparts.