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Home background and schooling outcomes in South Africa: Insights from the National Income Dynamics Study

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  • Heleen Hofmeyr

    (Department of Economics, Stellenbosch University)

Abstract

Patterns of poverty and inequality in South Africa are largely sustained by differential educational outcomes of children across different strata of society. Most of these differences in educational outcomes are attributed to large differences in the quality of education received by children. It is the intention of this paper to add to our understanding of the determinants of educational outcomes in South Africa by investigating the role of the family in determining these heterogeneous educational outcomes. This is done by estimating the relationship between home background and schooling outcomes for a sample of South African youths. The analysis in this paper suggests a strong correlation between home background and the educational outcomes of the sample at hand. Broadly, the co-residence of biological parents in the household and the education attained by parents are found to be positively associated with educational outcomes of children.

Suggested Citation

  • Heleen Hofmeyr, 2018. "Home background and schooling outcomes in South Africa: Insights from the National Income Dynamics Study," Working Papers 01/2018, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:sza:wpaper:wpapers294
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lotte van der Vleuten, 2016. "Mind The Gap! The Influence of Family Systems on The Gender Education Gap in Developing Countries, 1950--2005," Economic History of Developing Regions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(1), pages 47-81, March.
    2. Asmus Zoch, 2015. "Life chances and class: Estimating inequality of opportunity for children and adolescents in South Africa," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(1), pages 57-75, January.
    3. Nic Spaull, 2011. "A Preliminary Analysis of SACMEQ III South Africa," Working Papers 11/2011, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    4. Chris van Wyk, 2015. "An overview of Education data in South Africa: an inventory approach," Working Papers 19/2015, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    5. Handa, Sudhanshu, 1994. "Gender, headship and intrahousehold resource allocation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 22(10), pages 1535-1547, October.
    6. Asmus Zoch, 2013. "Life chances and class: Estimating inequality of opportunity in South Africa for various life stages," Working Papers 08/2013, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    7. Servaas van der Berg, 2007. "Apartheid's Enduring Legacy: Inequalities in Education-super- 1," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 16(5), pages 849-880, November.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    home background; family structure; educational outcomes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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