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

Author Info

  • 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
Date of revision:
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. 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.
  2. Hirshleifer, Sarojini & McKenzie, David & Almeida, Rita & Ridao-Cano, Cristobal, 2014. "The impact of vocational training for the unemployed : experimental evidence from Turkey," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6807, The World Bank.

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