The determinants of young people’s decision between study and work in Brazil and the neet generation

Abstract

This article seeks to identify the characteristics related to the decision of youngsters between work and school. For that, two definitions of labor are considered: paid occupation and another that also includes work without compensation, such as the responsibility for housework. The first definition highlights the importance of the role of parents’ education and household income on children’s human capital accumulation decision, reinforcing the idea that there is an intergenerational transmission of education and opportunities. In addition, motherhood was associated with youngsters not being in school. The second definition allowed the identification of differences mainly regarding young women. In general, the results associate NEET women with low schooling, inhabiting in rural areas, marriage and motherhood. A comparison between the two definitions of labor indicates that in the broader definition the effect of inhabiting in rural areas and of marriage is more intense with the chances of young women being NEET, meanwhile motherhood starts indicating a greater chance of them being only working. Thus, this work strengthens the need for instruments that enable women a greater conciliation between housework, market work and study.