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Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): January

Copyright (c) 2026 Mohammad Walid Hemat, Gaye Karpat Çatalbaş

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Household Education Expenditure in Afghanistan: The Role of Socioeconomic Factors

https://doi.org/10.62810/jssh.v3i1.200
Mohammad Walid Hemat
Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Departments of Economics, 26480 Odunpazarı/Eskişehir, TURKEY
Gaye Karpat Çatalbaş
Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Department of Statistics, Odunpazarı/Eskişehir, TURKEY

Corresponding Author(s) : Mohammad Walid Hemat

walidhemat@gmail.com

Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): January

Abstract

Educational development is central to the social, economic, and political sustainability of nations. In Afghanistan, the education sector has faced persistent challenges and interruptions over the past century, producing significant consequences for both the country and the wider region. Despite the importance of household education expenditure in shaping educational outcomes, limited research has examined the broader socioeconomic determinants of such spending in Afghanistan. Existing studies have largely emphasized financial and demographic characteristics, leaving social and geographic factors underexplored.This study aims to investigates the determinants of household education expenditure in Afghanistan, focusing on the role of socioeconomic, geographic, and social factors. Using high-frequency household survey data from all provinces and applying logistic regression, the research identifies key drivers of the likelihood of household spending on education.Results reveal a nonlinear relationship between income and the probability of education expenditure, with the likelihood rising with income up to a threshold, then declining among the highest-income households. Asset ownership generally increases the odds of spending on education. Among expenditure categories, food, personal, and internet-related spending increase the likelihood of education expenditure, while transport expenditure reduces it. Regional disparities in education spending are high, and the type of dwelling, whether single, shared, or temporary housing, emerges as an important factor in explaining variation in household decisions. The findings highlight the need for targeted policy interventions to reduce regional inequalities and strengthen household investment in education. By emphasizing the influence of social and geographic factors alongside economic ones, this study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of education expenditure in Afghanistan’s complex socioeconomic context.

Keywords

Afghanistan Education expenditure Household Socioeconomic determinants
Hemat, M. W., & Çatalbaş , G. K. (2026). Household Education Expenditure in Afghanistan: The Role of Socioeconomic Factors. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 3(1), 91–110. https://doi.org/10.62810/jssh.v3i1.200
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Received 2025-10-15
Accepted 2026-01-31
Published 2026-01-31
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