Argentine Youth

An Untapped Potential

The World Bank

• Publisher: World Bank Publications
• Year: 2009
• Topic: Economics
• eBook ISBN:
  9780821379257
• Subtopic: Development Economics
• Index: Economics

Unlocking the Potential of Argentina's Youth: A Call to Action

Argentine Youth: An Untapped Potential delves into the challenges and opportunities facing Argentina's 6.7 million young people, revealing that nearly half are at risk due to factors like poverty, limited education, and risky behaviors. This comprehensive study by The World Bank highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to unlock their potential and drive sustainable development.

This report provides policymakers, development professionals, and researchers with critical insights into the social and economic realities shaping the lives of Argentine youth. Discover concrete policy recommendations and strategies to address key issues, including:

• Improving educational attainment and skills development
• Promoting access to employment and economic opportunities
• Addressing health risks such as teenage pregnancy and substance abuse
• Fostering social inclusion and civic engagement

Transform Argentina's youth into a powerful engine for growth and a more secure society. Invest in their future today.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Executive Summary
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Demographics and Framework
• 3. Education and Learning
• 4. Labor Markets and Business Cycles
• 5. Growing Up Healthy
• 6. Forming Families
• 7. Citizenship and Participation
• 8. Youth Policy Directions To Reduce Youth At Risk
• Appendix: Argentina at a Glance
• References
• Map: Argentina
• Table 1.1. Top Problems Identified By Youth Ages 15–24, By Socioeconomic Strata
• Table 1.2. Youth Behaviors and Outcomes Are Interrelated
• Table 2.1. Youth Ages 15–24 in 2005, Selected Countries
• Table 2.2. Youth in Argentina, By Risk Status
• Table 3.1. Education Indicators in Latin America and the Caribbean and the OECD
• Table 3.2. Net Secondary School Enrollment Rates, Selected Years 1992–2005
• Table 3.3. Population and Enrollment Growth in 1980, 1991, and 2001
• Table 3.4. Gross Enrollment Rates in Argentina, By Age and Gender, 1992–2005
• Table 3.5. Nonenrollment, By Area, 2001
• Table 3.6. Nonenrollment and Attendance Rates By Quintile for 6–17-year-olds
• Table 3.7. Average Years of Education, By Household Income Quintile, 1992, 2000, and 2005
• Table 3.8. Test Scores for Latin America and the OECD in 2000
• Table 3.9. Educational Outcomes of Young People, By Age
• Table 3.10. Mothers’ and Children’s Schooling in Greater Buenos Aires in 2005–Maxium Level of Education Achieved
• Table 3.11. Likelihood of Starting Secondary School, 2005
• Table 3.12. Likelihood of Completing Secondary School, 2005
• Table 3.13. Is a Student Likely to Complete Secondary School?
• Table 4.1. Age Distribution of Employed Workers, 1992, 2000, and 2005
• Table 4.2. Duration of Unemployment
• Table 4.3. Change in Wage Returns over Business Cycles
• Table 4.4. Change in Likelihood of Being Unemployed over the Business Cycle
• Table 4.5. Paths Followed by Youth and Adult Workers in the Labor Market, 1995–2003
• Table 5.1. Mortality Rate for Ages 15–24
• Table 5.2. Mortality Due to External Causes, Ages 15–24
• Table 5.3. Projected Numbers of 15-year-Olds in 2003 Who Will Die Before the Age of 60
• Table 5.4. Mortality per 100,000 Caused by Road Traffic Injury for Ages 15–29
• Table 5.5. Tobacco Use in Adolescents
• Table 5.6. Patterns of Tobacco Use for Youth Ages 15–24
• Table 5.7. Estimated Relative Odds of Smoking Frequently
• Table 5.8. Patterns of Alcohol Use for Youth Ages 15–24
• Table 5.9. Estimated Relative Odds of Drinking Alcohol on a Regular Basis
• Table 5.10. Patterns of Drug Use for Youth Ages 15–24
• Table 5.11. Estimated Relative Odds of Having Consumed Drugs
• Table 6.1. Economic and Social Costs of Early Pregnancies
• Table 6.2. Child Mortality Indicators, Selected Countries
• Table 6.3. Child Heath Indicators, Selected Countries
• Table 6.4. Maternal Health Indicators, Selected Countries
• Table 6.5. Cumulative Percentage of Sexually-initiated Youth, By City of Residence and Gender
• Table 6.6. Discrete Event History Estimates Predicting Sexual Initiation Until Age 19 for Men
• Table 6.7. Discrete Event History Estimates Predicting Sexual Initiation Until Age 19 for Women
• Table 6.8. Proportion of Sexually-initiated Women Who Have Used Condoms and the Birth Control Pill
• Table 6.9. Proportion of Sexually-initiated Women Who Have Used Contraception, By Education and Age Group
• Table 6.10. Percentage of Live Births to Mothers Below the Age of 20 for Selected Regions in Argentina, 2004
• Table 6.11. Discrete Event History Estimates Predicting Adolescent Pregnancy
• Table 6.12. HIV/AIDS Prevalence Estimates among Youth, Selected Countries
• Table 7.1. Voting Behavior and Participation of Youth 18–24, By Income Quintile
• Table 7.2. Declared Level of Trust in the Judicial System, By Age and Income Quintile
• Figure 2.1. Fertility Rate and Life Expectancy
• Figure 2.2. Population Distribution in 1990
• Figure 2.3. Population Distribution in 2000
• Figure 2.4. Population Distribution in 2020
• Figure 2.5. Population Distribution in 2040
• Figure 2.6. Distribution of Youth Across Regions in Argentina, 2001
• Figure 2.7. Share of Youth By Region, 2001
• Figure 2.8. Five Youth Transitions to Adulthood
• Figure 3.1. Nonenrollment Rates, Ages 6–17, 1980, 1991, and 2001
• Figure 3.2. Enrollment and Population By Age, 2001
• Figure 3.3. Per Capita GDP and Average Test Scores, Selected Countries
• Figure 3.4. Paths for Students 15–30 Years Old in Greater Buenos Aires
• Figure 4.1. Ratio of Youth to Total Unemployment in Selected Latin American Countries, Average 1993–2003
• Figure 4.2. Unemployment Rates, By Age, 1992–2003
• Figure 4.3. Youth Employment and Unemployment Rates, 1992–2003
• Figure 4.4. Proportion of All Youth Employed and Unemployed in 2005, By Income
• Figure 4.5. Proportion of All Youth Employed and Unemployed in 2005, By Gender
• Figure 4.6. Average Hourly Wage, By Educational Level
• Figure 4.7. Average Hourly Wage, By Age Group
• Figure 4.8. Relative Youth (15–24) and Adult (25–60) Wages, By Region, 1992–2003
• Figure 4.9. Distribution of Occupations By Category and Age, 1995–2003
• Figure 5.1. Living with Both Parents Decreases Substance Abuse
• Figure 7.1. Domestic Violence, School Dropout, and Early Sexual Initiation in Four Provinces in Argentina
• Figure 7.2. Homicide Rates for Males
• Figure 7.3. Homicide Rates for Females
• Figure 7.4. Male Homicide Victims, By Age
• Figure 7.5. Female Homicide Victims, By Age
• Box 1.1. Definitions and Concepts
• Box 1.2. World Development Report 2007 and the Regional Youth Study for Latin America and the Caribbean
• Box 1.3. Data Used for Analyses
• Box 2.1. Conceptual Framework for Youth at Risk
• Box 4.1. Typology of Labor Market Paths
• Box 7.1. Digital Inclusion
• Box 7.2. Monitoring and Evaluation among Youth NGOs—Youth As Key Actors at Each Step
• Box 8.1. Youth Are an Asset to Society
• Box 8.2. Interventions for Youth at Risk That Don’t Work