Using a sample of Australians who display high rates of early school-leaving, we compare the trajectories of respondents who left school at each incremental age between 14 and 17 with respondents who left at 18 years old or more, in terms of homelessness, incarceration, substance use and mental...

Around 50 years ago, the Netherlands decriminalized cannabis for recreational use. This paper uses retrospective data on the ages at which individuals began and ceased cannabis use to reconstruct its prevalence in Amsterdam during the period surrounding the policy change. This approach enables a...

The Covid pandemic arrived in Ireland on February 29, 2020. In the following weeks various restrictions were introduced to stem the spread of the disease. Anxiety over the spread of the disease and over the restrictions introduced led to concerns regarding mental health. This paper uses the...

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) on dental visits among eligible children and adolescents in Australia. The study analysed the data set from the birth cohort (B cohort) in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). A...

After the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany experienced an increase in police-recorded child and juvenile delinquency that attracted considerable public attention. Given the limitations of official crime statistics, the parliament of the state of North Rhine-Westfalia asked the state...

This study investigates the rise of social inequalities in oil-producing communities in Nigeria's Niger Delta, identifying factors that contribute to socioeconomic disparities. Over the last two decades, these communities have endured environmental degradation, youth violence, militancy, and...

Skills development through quality apprenticeships can help young people make a successful transition from school to adulthood with sustainable, satisfying and rewarding employment. But even in Switzerland, which has a very strong standardized apprenticeship system with a good reputation, there...

Green packaging, branding, and eco-labeling are among the rising green marketing initiatives from food industry businesses that promote a sustainable brand image to potential consumers; this study examines the relevance of these two green marketing strategies on Vietnamese young consumers'...

The experience of sexual intercourse for the first time is a significant life event, and influenced by a range of individual, cultural and societal factors. Age of first sexual initiation is a major area of policy and research focus, as the circumstances of first sex (e.g. whether contraception...

We study the effect of having an older sister on the likelihood that girls in sub-Saharan Africa marry before reaching adulthood. Relying on the randomness of the firstborn sibling's sex, we show that having an older sister (as opposed to an older brother) reduces the likelihood of marrying...

We evaluate the impact of a therapy intervention on Nepali adolescents at risk of dropping out of school. Our randomized controlled trial is the largest of its kind (N = 1,707) and is novel in that participation does not require a preexisting diagnosis. Participation was high: 89 percent of...

This study examines the causal impact of addictive patterns of social media use on mental health outcomes through a randomized controlled trial conducted among young individuals (18 to 24 years) in Pakistan. Participants in the treatment group received an intervention designed to limit their...

After the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany experienced an increase in police-recorded child and juvenile delinquency that attracted considerable public attention. Given the limitations of official crime statistics, the parliament of the state of North Rhine-Westfalia asked the state...

This paper investigates the long- and short-term effects of geographical proximity to universities on educational attainment in Nigeria. We relate individuals level of schooling obtained from three rounds of the Nigeria's Living Standard Measurement Survey (LSMS) to spatial distance to...

Turkish migration to Western Europe, particularly Germany, has been driven by economic aspirations and socio-political conflicts. Since 2013, a new wave of highly skilled young Turks has migrated to Western states due to political instability. At the same time, a concerning trend emerging in...

This study examines the impact of increasing the Minimum Legal Drinking Age (from 16 to 18 years old) on the academic performance, substance use, and peer behaviours of teenagers. Using a difference-in-discontinuities design, we exploit regional MLDA reforms in Spain and PISA data to identify...

This article applies the ACL framework (Age at migration, Context/contact opportunities, and Life cycle stage) and uses qualitative interview data to compare the integration of Syrian adult & child refugees in St. John’s, Canada. Almost all children report having Canadian-born friends,...

This innovative study breaks new territory in two key areas: it puts VET centre stage as a key intervention to support NEETs and presents the first mixed-methods research effort to collect and analyse evidence on the profile and role of NEETs teachers in Greece. It fills a significant knowledge...

Using a sample of disadvantaged Australians, we compare trajectories of those who left school before 18 with those who left later, in terms of homelessness, incarceration, substance use and mental health issues. We estimate a staggered difference-in-difference to account for heterogenous...

Summer Youth Employment Programs are known to have significant impacts on youth outcomes based on lotteries from oversubscribed programs. But most cities cannot use a lottery design due to heterogeneity across youth and jobs. How can programs achieve efficiency and equity under alternative...

The rapid rise of social media has transformed communication and raised concerns about its societal impact, particularly on mental health and well-being. Using data from a novel EU-wide survey, this study investigates the association between social media usage, loneliness, and emotional distress...

This study aims to evaluate whether key factors related to homelessness and the utilisation of support services by homeless youth are associated with their employment outcomes. Data from 402 young people living in 21 housing accommodation buildings across three urban cities in England are used...

This paper presents estimates of the causal effect of a comprehensive support program for low-income high school students on crime. The program, called Pathways to Education, bundles a number of supports including regular coaching, tutoring, group activities, free public transportation tickets...

This study examines the impact of increasing the Minimum Legal Drinking Age (from 16 to 18 years old) on the academic performance, substance use, and peer behaviours of teenagers. Using a difference-in-discontinuities design, we exploit regional MLDA reforms in Spain and PISA data to identify...

Effective and scalable strategies for promoting youth mental health are urgently needed. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of school-based, teacher-led coping skills instruction on youth mental health and academic achievement. The trial included 84 classes and 1,879...