WHO ARE THE NEETS? A SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERIZATION FROM A GENDER APPROACH IN ECUADOR

Códigos JEL: E24, E26, J13, J17, J21

Abstract

People aged between 15 to 24 years old who are not enrolled in formal education and employed under a paid work system neither, are known as NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). In recent years, this population segment has become a persistent and growing phenomenon especially in developing countries. In this context, this research has the objective of analyzing the socioeconomics characteristics of NEET population in Ecuador during the period 2008 to 2017. First, the analysis starts from an outlook at regional level and later, it focuses in the causes that have an impact on the configuration of this phenomenon at national level. It is based on the Gender Economics theoretical approach. The methodology used in this investigation is qualitative and quantitative. The results show that NEET population is mainly composed of women both at regional and national level and the causes of it may result from an asymmetric distribution of care work inside homes.