ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON THE DECISION TO LEAVE HOME IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Although the departure of children from the parental home is an import ant life-cycle event, few studies have investigated nest-leaving in de veloping countries. Using retrospective data from the Second Malaysian Family Life Survey, we estimate hazard models of nest-leaving in Peni nsular Malaysia. We find that the departure of children, especially so ns, responds to economic incentives, including housing costs, family b usinesses, education, and economic growth, and that ethnic differences in nest-leaving are important. We also find that the median age of de parture from home has declined sharply over the past 40 years, a perio d of rapid social and economic change in Malaysia.