The Impact of Parental Health on Children's Schooling and Labour Force Participation: Evidence from Vietnam

27 Pages Posted: 10 Apr 2017 Last revised: 29 Apr 2023

See all articles by Silvia Mendolia

Silvia Mendolia

University of Aberdeen

Thi Nguyen

University of Wollongong

Oleg Yerokhin

University of Wollongong - Department of Economics

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between parental health shocks and children's engagement in education and labour market, using a panel data survey of Vietnamese families, interviewed between 2004 and 2008. While there is substantial evidence showing the intergenerational transmission of health, the literature investigating the impact of parental health on children's educational and labour market outcomes is limited, especially in developing countries. We use child fixed effects and control for a detailed set of household and local area characteristics. Our main findings show that maternal illness substantially decreases chances of being enrolled in school for children between 10 and 23 years old and, at the same time, increases the children's likelihood of entering the labour market and working more hours for children aged 10-15 years old. The effect is particularly pronounced for girls, who seem to experience worst adverse consequences in terms of education and labour market engagement.

Keywords: parental illness, children's education, child labour

JEL Classification: I10, I14, I24

Suggested Citation

Mendolia, Silvia and Nguyen, Thi and Yerokhin, Oleg, The Impact of Parental Health on Children's Schooling and Labour Force Participation: Evidence from Vietnam. IZA Discussion Paper No. 10651, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2949067 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2949067

Silvia Mendolia (Contact Author)

University of Aberdeen ( email )

Dunbar Street
Aberdeen, Scotland AB24 3QY
United Kingdom
0044 1224 272182 (Phone)

Thi Nguyen

University of Wollongong

Northfields Avenue
Wollongong, New South Wales 2522
Australia

Oleg Yerokhin

University of Wollongong - Department of Economics ( email )

Building 40A, Level 2
Wollongong, NSW 2522
Australia

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