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Gender Differences in the Effects of Vocational Training: Constraints on Women and Drop-Out Behavior

Author Info

Listed author(s):
  • Cho, Yoon Y.

    ()

    (World Bank)

  • Kalomba, Davie

    (Malawi National AIDS Commission)

  • Mobarak, A. Mushfiq

    ()

    (Yale University)

  • Orozco, Victor

    (World Bank)

Abstract

We provide experimental evidence on the effects of vocational and entrepreneurial training for Malawian youth, in an environment where access to schooling and formal sector employment is extremely low. We track a large fraction of program drop-outs – a common phenomenon in the training evaluation literature – and this allows us to examine the determinants and consequences of drop-out and how it mediates the effects of such programs. We find that women make decisions in a more constrained environment, and their participation affected by family obligations. Participation is more expensive for them, resulting in worse training experience. The training results in skills development, continued investment in human capital, and improved well-being, with more positive effects for men, but no improvements in labor market outcomes in the short run.

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Paper provided by Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in its series IZA Discussion Papers with number 7408.

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Length: 51 pages
Date of creation: May 2013
Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7408
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Keywords: gender; vulnerable youth; apprenticeship training; drop-outs; Malawi;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
  • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
  • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
  • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development

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Cited by:

  1. Francis Teal, 2016. "Are apprenticeships beneficial in sub-Saharan Africa?," IZA World of Labor, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), pages 268-268, June.
  2. Ayesha Khan & Mupuwaliywa Mupuwaliywa, 2015. "Providing Out-of-School Girls with Skills," World Bank Other Operational Studies 23868, The World Bank.
  3. Hirshleifer, Sarojini & McKenzie, David & Almeida, Rita K. & Ridao-Cano, Cristobal, 2014. "The Impact of Vocational Training for the Unemployed: Experimental Evidence from Turkey," IZA Discussion Papers 8059, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).
  4. repec:eee:labeco:v:45:y:2017:i:c:p:116-130 is not listed on IDEAS
  5. Yoonyoung Cho, 2015. "Entrepreneurship for the poor in developing countries," IZA World of Labor, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), pages 167-167, July.
  6. Shubha Chakravarty & Sarah Haddock & Ioana Botea, 2016. "Providing Out-of-School Adolescent Girls with Skills," World Bank Other Operational Studies 24571, The World Bank.
  7. Arif Mamun & Evan Borkum & Kristen Velyvis & Luke Heinkel & John Middleton, 2014. "The Millennium Challenge Corporation's Vocational Training Activity in Namibia: Evaluation Design Report," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 80d2989ca5c64313afe4bc4fd, Mathematica Policy Research.
  8. World Bank, 2016. "Bangladesh Social Protection and Labor Review," World Bank Other Operational Studies 25265, The World Bank.
  9. Evan Borkum & Arif Mamun & Linus Marco & Malik Khan Mubeen, "undated". "Evaluation of the Vocational Training Grant Fund in Namibia: Baseline Report," Mathematica Policy Research Reports e62360de0bf845e3b67ee22ff, Mathematica Policy Research.
  10. Christopher Blattman & Jeannie Annan, 2015. "Can Employment Reduce Lawlessness and Rebellion? A Field Experiment with High-Risk Men in a Fragile State," NBER Working Papers 21289, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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