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Are You (Not) Expecting?: The Unforeseen Benefits of Job Training on Teenage Pregnancy

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  • Novella, Rafael
  • Ripani, Laura

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy in the Dominican Republic represents a persistent development challenge. This paper uses data from a randomized impact evaluation of the youth training program Juventud y Empleo, which includes soft-skills training, to examine its impact on teenage pregnancy. We find that the program reduces the probability of teenage pregnancy by 8 percentage points (about 20 percent), particularly among teenagers who are not already mothers. The program seems to affect teenage pregnancy through improvements in soft skills and expectations, among others channels. In addition, we find that the program plays a protective role for teenagers from more deprived backgrounds.

Suggested Citation

  • Novella, Rafael & Ripani, Laura, 2015. "Are You (Not) Expecting?: The Unforeseen Benefits of Job Training on Teenage Pregnancy," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 7366, Inter-American Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:idb:brikps:7366
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    Cited by:

    1. Carla Calero & Sandra V. Rozo, 2016. "The effects of youth training on risk behavior: the role of non-cognitive skills," IZA Journal of Labor & Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 5(1), pages 1-27, December.
    2. Cecilia Velázquez & Wanda Cabella, 2022. "Abortion Legalization in Uruguay: Effects on Adolescent Fertility," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0298, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    3. repec:idb:brikps:7203 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. María Laura Alzúa & Cecilia Velázquez, 2017. "The effect of education on teenage fertility: causal evidence for Argentina," IZA Journal of Migration and Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 7(1), pages 1-23, December.
    5. Favara, Marta & Lavado, Pablo & Sanchez, Alan, 2016. "Understanding Teenage Fertility, Cohabitation, and Marriage: The Case of Peru," IZA Discussion Papers 10270, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Oleksiy Ivaschenko & Darian Naidoo & David Newhouse & Sonya Sultan, 2017. "Can public works programs reduce youth crime? Evidence from Papua New Guinea’s Urban Youth Employment Project," IZA Journal of Migration and Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 7(1), pages 1-32, December.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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