Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Determinants of Education Demand in Small-Scale Gold Mining Communities in Burkina Faso

Abstract

This study investigates the determinants of education demand in small-scale gold mining communities in Burkina Faso. It investigates issues of low demand of education in small-scale gold mining communities, in relation to the current debate around natural resources being a curse for local communities. It highlights priorities of education demand and supply factors that investments from natural resources can target to turn the resource curse into a blessing for education. Probit regression was used for the analysis, as education demand is proxied by a binary variable. Results suggest that child characteristics, household, and education supply factors are important predictors of education demand in small-scale gold mining communities in Burkina Faso. However, households demand for education does not follow the traditional pattern that shows higher education demand for wealthier families. This study recommends then that interventions focus on “opening the eyes” of many parents for them to realize that education is a long-term investment.

Keywords: Education demand, gold mining communities, natural resource curse,

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-12-15

Publication date: April 30^th 2019