This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/jan/21/latin-americas-young-people-risk-being-left-behind

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
World Bank urges Latin America not to leave young people behind World Bank urges Latin America not to leave young people behind
(7 months later)
The 18 million young people out of school and work across Latin America could play a vital role in driving the region’s economic growth and reducing crime, inequality and migration, a new report claims.The 18 million young people out of school and work across Latin America could play a vital role in driving the region’s economic growth and reducing crime, inequality and migration, a new report claims.
Despite Latin America’s strong economic performance over recent years and several successful anti-poverty initiatives, the World Bank study finds that the number of ninis – a contraction of the Spanish “ni estudia ni trabaja” (neither working nor studying) – has increased.Despite Latin America’s strong economic performance over recent years and several successful anti-poverty initiatives, the World Bank study finds that the number of ninis – a contraction of the Spanish “ni estudia ni trabaja” (neither working nor studying) – has increased.
One in five 15- to 24-year-olds in Latin America are ninis. Although two-thirds are women, the overall rise has been fuelled by a 46% increase in male ninis between 1992 and 2010.One in five 15- to 24-year-olds in Latin America are ninis. Although two-thirds are women, the overall rise has been fuelled by a 46% increase in male ninis between 1992 and 2010.
Related: Global unemployment to rise by 3.4 million in two years, report says
The proportion of ninis varies, from 11% of young people in Peru to more than 25% in Honduras and El Salvador. Countries with larger populations, such as Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, tend to have the highest number of ninis.The proportion of ninis varies, from 11% of young people in Peru to more than 25% in Honduras and El Salvador. Countries with larger populations, such as Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, tend to have the highest number of ninis.
Almost three-quarters of ninis live in cities and overall education levels are low. In 2010, more than a quarter of them had not completed primary school, while nearly half had not finished secondary school.Almost three-quarters of ninis live in cities and overall education levels are low. In 2010, more than a quarter of them had not completed primary school, while nearly half had not finished secondary school.
The study, Out of School and Out of Work: Risk and Opportunities for Latin America’s Ninis, argues that the region will struggle to achieve its economic potential if ninis continue to be neglected.The study, Out of School and Out of Work: Risk and Opportunities for Latin America’s Ninis, argues that the region will struggle to achieve its economic potential if ninis continue to be neglected.
“It’s not that the region’s not making any progress,” said Halsey Rogers, a World Bank economist and one of the report’s authors. “It’s definitely made progress and the situation would be far worse had we not had the growth and poverty reduction we’ve had in the region over the last 20 years.“It’s not that the region’s not making any progress,” said Halsey Rogers, a World Bank economist and one of the report’s authors. “It’s definitely made progress and the situation would be far worse had we not had the growth and poverty reduction we’ve had in the region over the last 20 years.
“What we’re pointing out is that despite that progress, there are still some who are left behind, particularly this rise in concentration of the ninis among the males, even though the majority of the ninis are females.”“What we’re pointing out is that despite that progress, there are still some who are left behind, particularly this rise in concentration of the ninis among the males, even though the majority of the ninis are females.”
Rogers urged policymakers to recognise the huge and diverse benefits of addressing the issue and getting more young people into education and employment.Rogers urged policymakers to recognise the huge and diverse benefits of addressing the issue and getting more young people into education and employment.
He pointed to the success of initiatives such as conditional cash transfers, deferred scholarships and longer school days in getting children to stay in education. Similar moves, he added, are needed to provide jobs.He pointed to the success of initiatives such as conditional cash transfers, deferred scholarships and longer school days in getting children to stay in education. Similar moves, he added, are needed to provide jobs.
Related: Rice, drugs and dangerous sex toys: the rise of smuggling in ailing Venezuela
“What’s at stake is both the present and the future of the region: it’s the growth prospects of the region; it’s inequality. Is the region going to continue to make some of the progress it’s seen against inequality, particularly in countries like Brazil? It’s crime and violence, which is affecting everybody’s daily lives, particularly in Mexico, Central America and Colombia, and it’s migration,” he said.“What’s at stake is both the present and the future of the region: it’s the growth prospects of the region; it’s inequality. Is the region going to continue to make some of the progress it’s seen against inequality, particularly in countries like Brazil? It’s crime and violence, which is affecting everybody’s daily lives, particularly in Mexico, Central America and Colombia, and it’s migration,” he said.
“Parts of the region have lost a very large share of their youth population – those who could be contributing most dynamically to the future of the country. There’s a great deal that hangs on tackling this problem effectively.”“Parts of the region have lost a very large share of their youth population – those who could be contributing most dynamically to the future of the country. There’s a great deal that hangs on tackling this problem effectively.”
Rogers said that while the number of female ninis is declining thanks to increased education and employment prospects and the growing empowerment of women in Latin America, the plight of some male ninis is far less positive.Rogers said that while the number of female ninis is declining thanks to increased education and employment prospects and the growing empowerment of women in Latin America, the plight of some male ninis is far less positive.
In countries with higher crime rates – such as Mexico, Colombia and some Central American nations – the report found a link between increasing violence and an increasing number of male ninis.In countries with higher crime rates – such as Mexico, Colombia and some Central American nations – the report found a link between increasing violence and an increasing number of male ninis.
“There is a correlation – we can’t say which way the causation goes as it almost certainly goes both ways – so in places where you have an increase in crime and violence and you already have some ninis, that tends to pull some of those ninis into that crime and violence and lead to more violence,” said Rogers.“There is a correlation – we can’t say which way the causation goes as it almost certainly goes both ways – so in places where you have an increase in crime and violence and you already have some ninis, that tends to pull some of those ninis into that crime and violence and lead to more violence,” said Rogers.
“It almost certainly goes the other way as well, so in those areas that have some insecurity, you have more crime and violence leading to less business investment, lower private-sector dynamism and therefore fewer job opportunities – which leads to more ninis.”“It almost certainly goes the other way as well, so in those areas that have some insecurity, you have more crime and violence leading to less business investment, lower private-sector dynamism and therefore fewer job opportunities – which leads to more ninis.”
We’re missing a chance, potentially, for the region to grow very fastWe’re missing a chance, potentially, for the region to grow very fast
Rogers stressed that while these “vicious cycles” were not found in all Latin American countries, there was sometimes a tendency to view ninis as criminal, problematic or lazy.Rogers stressed that while these “vicious cycles” were not found in all Latin American countries, there was sometimes a tendency to view ninis as criminal, problematic or lazy.
The report analysed Mexican media stories and found the 10 most common words used in articles on ninis were: educación (education); violencia (violence); jóvenes (youths); empleo (employment); habilidades (abilities); flojo (lazy); mujeres (women); drogas (drugs); oportunidades (opportunities) and inseguridad (insecurity).The report analysed Mexican media stories and found the 10 most common words used in articles on ninis were: educación (education); violencia (violence); jóvenes (youths); empleo (employment); habilidades (abilities); flojo (lazy); mujeres (women); drogas (drugs); oportunidades (opportunities) and inseguridad (insecurity).
Rogers warned that stigmatising ninis is socially and economically counterproductive as they have a key part to play at a time when the proportion of children and older people, relative to Latin America’s working-age population, is set to reach historical lows.Rogers warned that stigmatising ninis is socially and economically counterproductive as they have a key part to play at a time when the proportion of children and older people, relative to Latin America’s working-age population, is set to reach historical lows.
“We’re missing a chance, potentially, for the region to grow very fast,” he said. “That’s going to be missed if a lot of these youths are not productively in the labour force – and there’s the scarring effect, which means even 15 or 20 years from now, these ninis will be less productive and less likely to be in the labour force.”“We’re missing a chance, potentially, for the region to grow very fast,” he said. “That’s going to be missed if a lot of these youths are not productively in the labour force – and there’s the scarring effect, which means even 15 or 20 years from now, these ninis will be less productive and less likely to be in the labour force.”
There are 260 million young people aged 15 to 24 out of school and work globally. More than a third of them live in south Asia and more than a fifth in east Asia and the Pacific. The highest share of ninis is in the Middle East and north Africa, where one in three young people are not studying or working.There are 260 million young people aged 15 to 24 out of school and work globally. More than a third of them live in south Asia and more than a fifth in east Asia and the Pacific. The highest share of ninis is in the Middle East and north Africa, where one in three young people are not studying or working.