The Role of Education and Family Background in Marriage, Childbearing, and Labor Market Participation in Senegal

Francesca Marchetta (1) , David Sahn (1)

1 CERDI - Centre d'Études et de Recherches sur le Développement International

The decisions that young individuals and their families make regarding transitions from school into work, marriage, and parenthood can produce longlasting effects on their opportunities and well-being. For young women, in particular, schooling duration may affect the timing of other key transitions, such as their age at marriage and at first birth, and hence also their ability to engage in remunerative work. This article investigates the complex interrelationships between these transitions, with a particular focus on the influence of education on the timing of marriage and childbearing and on the ensuing effects on labor market participation. We emphasize the role of family background in shaping these intertwined critical life-course decisions.

Mots clés: cerdi

Domaines: Economies et finances

Francesca Marchetta, David Sahn. The Role of Education and Family Background in Marriage, Childbearing, and Labor Market Participation in Senegal. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 2016, 64 (2), pp.369-403. ⟨10.1086/683982⟩. ⟨halshs-01413422⟩