Hungarian government aimed to increase birth rates by lowering school-leaving age?

Many individuals withdrew from public education in response to Hungary’s 2012 decision to lower the school-leaving age from 18 to 16. This shift has instigated changes not only within educational institutions but also on a broader societal level over the past decade.

Educational and labor market impact

A study conducted by Anna Adamecz, Dániel Prinz, and Ágnes Szabó-Morvai, titled “The Labour Market and Childbearing Effects of Lowering the School-leaving Age” (A kötelező iskolalátogatási korhatár csökkentésének munkapiaci és gyermekvállalási hatásai) sheds light on the consequences of this policy change.

The research, as reported by Telex, reveals that lowering the school-leaving age has widened social inequalities in Hungary. Young people with lower status experienced more pronounced educational and labor market effects. The government’s emphasis on vocational training and early entry into the labor market contrasts with the global trend of encouraging lifelong learning.

Early school leaving and employment

Contrary to the government’s stance, global data indicates that those who stay in education fare significantly better in terms of income. In Hungary, the gap between the more and less educated is larger than the OECD average, emphasising the importance of educational attainment in securing higher-paying jobs. Despite the government’s intent to facilitate early entry into the labor market, early school leaving increased, and there weren’t more people who found jobs. Many who did secure employment ended up in positions requiring no qualifications, contributing to a stagnant primary labor market.

Impact on young women and effects on birth rates

Telex’s coverage of the study highlights that young pregnant women under 20 are nearly 35 times more likely to face challenges than those over 20. Some young women might consider quitting school, but struggle to find jobs, leading them toward early motherhood. This is a problem because having children early can negatively affect how women fit into work and society in the long run. The study suggests that the education system can both discourage and encourage early motherhood.

The lowering of the school-leaving age correlated with an increase in births and abortions among 16 to 18-year-olds, especially for children of parents with lower education. This phenomenon, coupled with the regional economic context, raises concerns about the potential long-term negative impact on women’s integration into the labor market and society. In contrast to the trend in developed countries since the 1970s, where fewer young women have kids, Hungary had a high rate of 20.2 births per 1,000 people under 20 in 2022. This was much higher than the European Union average of 9.2 in 2020, showing Hungary’s negative situation in terms of young pregnancies.

Other government initiatives

Beyond the school-leaving age reduction, initiatives like CSOK and CSOK Plus (Family Housing Support Program) aim to encourage families to have more children by helping them financially. We provide detailed information about these programs and their impact HERE. The Hungarian government’s decision to lower the school-leaving age in 2012 has raised questions about its potential correlation with the aim of increasing birth rates. Although it remains uncertain whether this correlation was intentional, there is a possibility that the policy change was implemented with the broader goal of encouraging higher birth rates.

While the government’s intention to facilitate early entry into the labor market drove the policy change, the study underscores the complex societal consequences. Increased social inequalities, a stagnant primary labor market, and potential adverse effects on women’s choices and integration necessitate a careful reevaluation of the policy’s long-term implications on education, employment, and broader societal dynamics in Hungary. For more in-depth exploration of statistical insights, explore our collection of articles HERE.

Source: Telex