A new GLO Discussion Paper reveals that classical studies do not affect conscientiousness and openness, but increases neuroticism and self-reported unhappiness.

GLO Discussion Paper No. 1242, 2023

Do Classical Studies Open your Mind? – Download PDF
by Brunello, Giorgio & Esposito, Piero & Rocco, Lorenzo & Scicchitano, Sergio

GLO Fellows Giorgio Brunello, Piero Esposito, Lorenzo Rocco & Sergio Scicchitano

Author Abstract: We investigate whether classical studies in high school – that emphasize in Italy the study of ancient languages such as Latin and Greek – affect personality traits. Using Italian survey data, we compare individuals who did classical studies in high school with similar individuals who completed a more scientific academic curriculum. We find that having done classical studies does not affect conscientiousness and openness but increases neuroticism and self-reported unhappiness.

JUST PUBLISHED

Vol. 36, Issue 2, April 2023: Journal of Population Economics (JOPE) 16 articles.
https://link.springer.com/journal/148/volumes-and-issues/36-2

Vol. 36, Issue 1, January 2023: Journal of Population Economics (JOPE) 16 articles. https://link.springer.com/journal/148/volumes-and-issues/36-1
Watch the videos of article presentations on December 1, 2022 during the GLO Global Conference 2022.

JOPE has CiteScore 6.5 (2021, LINK) & Impact Factor 4.7 (2021, LINK)

GLO Discussion Papers are research and policy papers of the GLO Network which are widely circulated to encourage discussion. Provided in cooperation with EconStor, a service of the ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, GLO Discussion Papers are among others listed in RePEc (see IDEAS,  EconPapers). Complete list of all GLO DPs – downloadable for free.

The Global Labor Organization (GLO) is an independent, non-partisan and non-governmental organization that functions as an international network and virtual platform to stimulate global research, debate and collaboration.

Ends;