Adolescent noncompliance and occupational attainment in transitional societies

Abstract

This article examines the effects of adolescent noncompliance (e.g., breaking of rules, flouting of norms) on occupational attainment in unstable and unpredictable societies. The authors suggest that the effect of adolescent noncompliance on occupational attainment depends on the unpredictability of the society and propose that adolescent noncompliance has positive effects on the occupational status of young adults in unpredictable societies. Using longitudinal data from the Paths of a Generation study, the authors estimate the impact of adolescent noncompliance on occupational status in former Soviet regions at two time points: (1) before the transition (stable society) and (2) in 1997–9, after major societal changes (unstable and unpredictable society). They find that adolescent noncompliance does not affect occupational attainment before the transition; however, it does increase the chance of being a manager after the transition. In addition, it is found that after the transition, adolescent noncompliance has positive effects on occupational attainment in the private sector but not in the state sector, providing further evidence of the positive effect of noncompliance in unpredictable societies.