The above studies comprise an interesting and important discussion about whether
delayed childbearing causes women to have more favorable income trajectories – a discussion
that can help explain some women’s motivation to postpone childbearing. However, if one is
more interested in how family resources affect children’s outcomes, it is more important to
simply note that increasing age is correlated with higher income. Table 1 shows that the
correlation between age and income is persistent and widespread. For men and for women, in
1975 and 1995, and for full-time workers of all educational levels, total money earning are
consistently higher at age 35-44 than at age 25-34. It follows that parents with young children
will generally have more resources available for their children if the parents have delayed