THE IMPACT OF PARENTAL MIGRATION ON STUDENT'S INVOLVEMENT IN HOUSEHOLD DUTIES - THE EVIDENCE FROM THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

The international migration of Moldovan labor force abroad is an important demographic phenomenon that has a significant impact on the many aspects of human well-being. Remittances sent by members working abroad can improve economic situation of poor household and can reduce the economic vulnerability of the original households. Additional financial resources reduce the likelihood of engaging in paid work but on other hand youth left-behind face increased household responsibilities and obligations. The main aim of research was to analyze the impact of parental migration on performing paid work and on the involvement in household chores by university students within the age range of 18 - 25 years. The survey was carried out from July to September 2014 in State Agrarian University of Moldova and Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova university and includes students of bachelor and master degrees (n = 121). Collected data were processed in Stata 13. Using a binary probit model it was found that migration and remittances have an insignificant effect on performing of paid job and involvement in household duties. It was investigated that students living in rural areas have significantly higher probability to be involved in household duties including housework, engagement in agricultural work care about siblings and grandparents. More than 59 percent of students spent daily between 3 7 hours working in agriculture and cleaning of houses. When age of student influence the engagement in household chores, gender does not seems to play an important role. Moreover, living in the rural area significantly decreases the probability of involvement in paid work. Interestingly, almost 80 percent of surveyed students intend to migrate abroad mainly due to economic reasons such as lack of suitable and well-paid job and 36 percent of them have already worked abroad.