Is Education Neglected in Natural Resources-Rich Countries? An Intergenerational Approach in Africa

By Jean-Marc B. Atsebi, Rasmané Ouedraogo, Regina S. Séri

July 29, 2022

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Jean-Marc B. Atsebi, Rasmané Ouedraogo, and Regina S. Séri Is Education Neglected in Natural Resources-Rich Countries? An Intergenerational Approach in Africa, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2022) accessed December 22, 2024

Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary

The literature on the effects of natural resources on education is mixed and inconclusive. In this paper, we adopt an innovative approach by exploring the effects of mineral discoveries and productions on intergenerational educational mobility (IM), linking parents to the children education levels for more than 14 million individuals across 28 African countries and 2,890 districts. We find that mineral discoveries and productions positively affect educational IM for primary education in Africa for individuals exposed to the mineral sites and living in districts with discoveries. Specifically, the probability of upward primary IM increases by 2.7 percentage points (pp.) following mineral discoveries and 6.7 pp. following mineral productions. Downward primary IM decreases by 1.2 pp. following both mineral discoveries and productions. These positive effects are increasing for individuals born later after discoveries and productions, for males, and individuals living in the urban area. However, no significant effects are found for secondary and tertiary educational IM. Finally, we explore the income and returns to education channels through which mineral discoveries and productions affect educational IM.

Subject: Economic sectors, Education, Environment, Gender, Mining sector, Natural resources, Non-renewable resources

Keywords: Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, Educational IM, Educational Intergenerational Mobility, Generalized Difference-in-differences, IM definition, IM index, Mineral Discoveries and Productions, Mineral discovery, Mining production, Mining sector, Natural Experiment, Natural resources, Non-renewable resources, North Africa, Southern Africa, Stylized fact, Tertiary IM, Upward mobility

Publication Details

Pages:

75
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Working Paper No. 2022/160
Stock No:

WPIEA2022160
ISBN:

9798400218071
ISSN:

1018-5941

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