Population Council Research that makes a difference

Population Association of America Annual Meeting
31 March–2 April 2011

Abstract

"Adolescents' work and schooling in Malawi"
Satvika Chalasani, Barbara Mensch, and Mark Montgomery

In 2007, almost 50 percent of adolescents in rural Malawi aged 14–17 were engaged in paid and unpaid labor other than household chores. If work takes away from schooling significantly, that 50 percent figure could be considered excessively high and undesirable. Consequently, I examine the actual extent to which work affects the schooling outcomes of male and female adolescents. Using data from four rounds of the Malawi Schooling and Adolescent Survey, I apply a dynamic switching model and a fixed-effects model to disentangle the simultaneous nature of the work-school decision. This research can shed light on the effectiveness of programs that aim to improve educational outcomes by offering financial and other incentives to delay premature and detrimental work responsibilities.

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Offsite link: PAA 2011 conference Web site

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