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Positive outcomes from poor starts: Predictors of dropping back in

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  • Laura E. Hill
  • Christopher Jepsen

Abstract

A vast body of research finds an association between missteps taken during the teen years (such as motherhood or dropping out of high school) and poor economic and educational outcomes. However, youth who take major missteps as teens often have subsequent success in school or the labor market. This paper attempts to draw lessons from youth who appear headed for a poor start in life, yet manage to have a positive economic or educational outcome by their early 20 s. Using National Educational Longitudinal Survey (NELS), we provide one of the first longitudinal analyses of well-being for teen mothers and high school dropouts that includes a nationally-representative population of Hispanic and Asian youth. In general, the predictors of positive outcomes are similar for those with high probabilities of poor starts as for the general population. A few high-school-age behaviors and community measures have additional associations with positive outcomes for likely poor starters. However, these correlates do not appear for all groups of likely poor starters, and they are not always in the expected direction.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura E. Hill & Christopher Jepsen, 2007. "Positive outcomes from poor starts: Predictors of dropping back in," Open Access publications 10197/4446, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucn:oapubs:10197/4446
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10197/4446
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    Cited by:

    1. David Black & Cain Polidano & Yi-Ping Tseng, 2012. "The Re-engagement in Education of Early School Leavers," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 31(2), pages 202-215, June.
    2. Cain Polidano & Domenico Tabasso & Yi-Ping Tseng, 2015. "A second chance at education for early school leavers," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(3), pages 358-375, June.
    3. Cain Polidano & Barbara Hanel & Hielke Buddelmeyer, 2012. "Explaining the SES School Completion Gap," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2012n16, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.

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