Studying to Support? Exploring Remittance Responsibilities Among Black South African Graduates

A large majority of Black South Africans remain restricted by intergenerational education and economic disadvantages. Labour market returns to tertiary qualifications are high, but the share of youth accessing post‐secondary education remains low. Under such circumstances, graduates may face unique responsibilities to financially support family members, over and above their income or employment status. We fit a Heckman model for the decision to offer financial support (remit), recognising that the mechanisms associated with offering support may differ from the determinants of support value. Results indicate that Black graduates are more likely to remit than other Black individuals and remit higher amounts conditional on remitting. Part of this responsibility arises from graduate status alone—that is, over and above employment characteristics and living arrangements. Similar dynamics may emerge in contexts with high private returns to tertiary education, unequal access to post‐secondary schooling, persistent socio‐economic inequalities and where extended family support obligations shape economic mobility.