This thesis contributes to the growing economic literature on noncognitive skills that are critical for life success, specially for academic success. It comprises four essays based on behavioral and experimental economics approaches, with two main objectives. The first objective is to study two noncognitive skills, namely self-confidence and creativity. We aim at understanding the determinants of self-confidence, and the impact of creative potential on economic outcomes. The second objective is to study how school systems impact educational decisions, educational outcomes and intergenerational mobility, where noncognitive skills may play an important role, specially self-confidence and motivation. We observe an important impact of the noncognitive abilities on behavior and economic results, especially for the educational achievements. Taken all our evidences together, it seems fundamental that schools worry about the development of these noncognitive abilities - and not only of the cognitive abilities. Helping students to have better estimates of self-confidence, favoring the development of creative potential, and stimulating motivation and effort should be part of the education that pupils receive in schools ; promoting then better decisions, better outcomes and a more equitable society.