The “ni-ni” phenomenon in Ecuador. Systematic reiew. Manta 2024-2025

Abstract

This study examines the “ni-ni” phenomenon in Ecuador—young people who neither study nor work—shaped by a dynamic interplay of determinants. The general objective is to analyze the ni-ni phenomenon in Ecuador, with specific aims to explain the factors that lead to becoming ni-ni and to identify the causes and consequences of this status within Ecuadorian society. Using a qualitative, descriptive, and integrative approach, the study explores socioeconomic, sociodemographic, family, and psychological factors, as well as the broader causes and consequences of the phenomenon, with particular emphasis on psychological aspects. A systematic review of 34 relevant studies shows that the ni-ni phenomenon is multicausal and structurally embedded; it cannot be understood solely at the individual level but rather as the product of a dynamic web of conditions that constrain youth development opportunities. The analysis also identifies significant structural shortcomings related to the State and public policy, whose deficiencies hinder young people’s access to the labor market and the continuity of education, thereby heightening the vulnerability of this population.