Estimation of the short-term costs of youths not in education, employment or training: evidence from Morocco

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, we estimate the overall costs of the youth population, not in education, employment, or training (NEET) in Morocco, focusing on public finance and opportunity costs, focusing on three of the five aspects: unemployment, health, and teenage mothers. The results show that young rural women represent a significant percentage of youths who are not in education, employment, or training in Morocco. In 2019, the total cost of young youth not in education, employment, or training in Morocco was estimated at 60,592,858,600 Moroccan Dirhams in terms of public finance and 55,043,899 000 Moroccan dirhams in terms of opportunity cost. These findings have implications for alleviating financial strain, fostering long-term social inclusion, and economic development. The high rate of young rural women not in education, employment, or training raises the need for targeted interventions in this area. The cost to the country is significant, affecting at the same time the lives of these youth, their families, and the national economy. This study highlights the need to implement policies and programs that integrate youth not in education, employment, or training into education and employment, thus reducing their socioeconomic impact for a sustainable future. This study adds to the literature by providing a detailed cost analysis of not in education, employment, or youth training in Morocco, demonstrating how these findings can be applied to similar contexts worldwide.