Anderson, Kermyt G.,
and David Lam. Dynamics
of family structure and progress through school in South Africa:
Evidence
from retrospective histories. Presented at the Population Association
of
America, May 2003.
This paper uses new
survey
data containing retrospective life history calendars for South African
youth to analyze the dynamics of grade advancement and family living
arrangements.
The analysis is based on the first wave of the Cape Area Panel Study
(CAPS),
which surveyed 4,3000 respondents age 14-22 in metropolitan Cape Town
in
late 2002. We use the CAPS life history calendars to examine the
relationship
between family structure and schooling outcomes for the three major
population
s groups in Cape Town – African, coloured, and white. While previous
research
has suggested that grade repetition plays a major role in explaining
school
outcomes in South Africa, this is on e of the first large household
surveys
to provide detailed information about grade repetition. We estimate
that
African youth have failed an average of 1.5 grades in school by age20,
accounting for about 75% of the white-African schooling gap at that
age.
We document substantial differences in family structure across racial
groups.
Using the CAPS life history calendars, we find that the proportion of
life
spent living with both parents is under 50% for the average African 15
year old, compare to 82% for whites. Our probit regression estimates
indicate
substantial effects of family structure on the probability of passing a
grade. African males living with the mother are 1.7 percentage points
more
likely to pass the current grade, implying almost a 20% reduction in
the
probability of grade repetition. We also estimate significant effects
of
the proportion of life spent living with the mother on cumulative
schooling
attainment for African males, with almost no effect for females. We
find
strong effects of mother’s schooling on youth schooling outcomes, but
find
that effects of family structure are relatively independent of the
effects
of mother’s schooling.
.
Paper
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Last modified: 05-30-03
by Kermyt G. Anderson