Three-generation educational mobility in six African countries: The role of grandparents

Abstract

Using nationally representative survey data, we provide estimate of three generation educational mobility in six African countries: Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Tanzania. We explore whether the extent of educational mobility over three generations varies by gender and whether the grandparent’s influence differs depending on their residency status. Our findings indicate that grandparents play a significant role, and that intergenerational effects can persist beyond two generations in Africa. These effects are however one-fifth as strong as those observed between two generations. The grandparents influence is generally higher for granddaughters than grandsons and is stronger if grandparents live with their grandchildren than if they do not.