I’m the middle child so this kind of story really gets to me! Of course, second-born kids are superior – who doesn’t know that? But if you believe the research (and I’m not sure I do), the firstborns get the gold medal.

The results of a massive study done by a whole collection of brainy people (economists Sandra E. Black at the University of Texas-Austin, and Björn Öckert and Erik Grönqvist at Sweden’s Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy) say that first-born children are 30 percent more likely to be CEOs or politician, stay in school for longer, earn more moola, have a higher IQ, and even spend more time with homework than on screens.

A psychologist involved in the study also concluded that firstborns have better personalities.
“An individual is given a higher score if he is considered to be emotionally stable, persistent, socially outgoing, willing to assume responsibility, and able to take initiative,” Black says.

First Born Leaders

Possible due to higher IQ and above-average social skills, first-borns are “significantly more likely” to be employed as top managers. While, children born in the 2nd, 3rd or later slots, are more likely to be entrepreneurs and self-employed.

The researchers summarised that the ‘superior’ firstborn was a result of parents being able to invest a lot of time establishing rules for their first child. Firstborns get the lion share of attention from their parents and are also entrusted to play the ‘example’ child within the family, which in turn builds intelligence, discipline, and leadership qualities. While subsequent siblings need to compete for more attention and tend to “become more sociable and unconventional in order to attract parental resources.”

First-borns aren’t just healthier or smarter, but also they score higher on “emotional stability, persistence, social outgoingness, willingness to assume responsibility and ability to take initiative.”

So if the study is true, my elder brother may be richer, but I’m going to be happier!

Do you believe it? Tell us in the comments below