Parental disability and children's educational, labor market and marital outcomes: Evidence from Nepal

Background: The extent to which parental disability affects children's educational, employment, and marital outcomes in low-income countries is poorly understood, limiting the countries' efforts to design and implement disability-inclusive policies. Objective: To assess the association between parental disability and children's education, employment, and marital outcomes in Nepal, and variations in these associations by sex. Method: Using a nationally representative 15% sample of the 2011 census, we examine the relationship between parental disability and children's outcomes in a regression framework, controlling for potential confounders. We also test if the associations vary by the individual's sex. Results: Father's disability is not associated with any of the outcomes for boys except enrolment status. However, for girls, it is associated also with lower chances of being at the appropriate grade and higher chances of being employed. Mother's disability is associated with lower chances of being at the appropriate grade, lower educational attainment, higher chances of being employed, and earlier marriage for boys. For girls, it is associated only with lower chances of being at the appropriate grade and being employed. Conclusions: Adverse effects of parental disability can last across generations in a low-income setting and can vary by the individual's sex. Further research is needed to ascertain causal pathways and intervening mechanisms.